Clinical Impact of Droplet Digital PCR-Guided Antibiotic Stewardship on Prognosis in Patients with Suspected Bloodstream Infection: A Prospective Observational Study.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

This study aimed to investigate whether droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) assay can be integrated with antimicrobial stewardship for rapid diagnosis to improve clinical outcomes in patients with suspected bloodstream infections (BSIs). We also explored whether combining ddPCR assay with procalcitonin (PCT) could better guide antibiotic discontinuation in patients with suspected BSIs.

Methods

This prospective observational study was conducted in Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital from April 2019 to October 2023. Antimicrobial drug combinations were categorized as appropriate or inappropriate based on the findings of the ddPCR assay. Propensity score matching (PSM) was conducted to address possible confounding variables. The primary outcome was

SUBMITTER: Shao Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12924819 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature