Efficacy and safety of the point-of-care procalcitonin test for determining the antibiotic treatment duration in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia in the intensive care unit: a randomised controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

This study was conducted to assess the efficacy of point-of-care (POC) procalcitonin (PCT) serial measurement in determining the antibiotic treatment duration in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).

Material and methods

One hundred patients were randomly recruited and then further randomly divided into two groups of 50 patients each. The first group used the POC PCT test along with the standard sepsis parameter monitoring, while the second group had the standard monitoring only (C-reactive protein [CRP] level, total white count, temperature and tracheal aspirate culture). Serial PCT test results and CRP levels were monitored on days 1, 3, 7 and 9. The patients were followed up for 28-day mortality.

Results

Eighty-five patients completed th

SUBMITTER: Z Mazlan M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10158486 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature