Procalcitonin Measurement in the Real World: We Need Algorithms

Use of procalcitonin seemed idiosyncratic and was associated with more days on antibiotics and higher rates of Clostridium difficile infection in septic ICU patients.

Clinical trials have suggested that measuring procalcitonin (PCT) levels in patients with suspected bacterial infections can help reduce antibiotic use without increasing morbidity or mortality; however, little is known about PCT's practical utility outside of such controlled studies. Investigators performed a retrospective cohort study using a national database including about 20% of patients hospitalized in nonfederal U.S. medical centers.

Among 20,750 patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) with diagnoses of sepsis, 3769 (18%) had at least one PCT measurement. PCT was obtained a mean of 1.6 days after antibiotic initiation and was repeated in only 1250 patients (33%). Compared with patients who did not have PCT measurement, those…

Reviewing Author

Neil M. Ampel, MD

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Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)

Neil M. Ampel, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)

Procalcitonin Measurement in the Real World: We Need Algorithms

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Reviewing Author