Procalcitonin-Guided Use of Antibiotics for Lower Respiratory Tract Infection.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The effect of procalcitonin-guided use of antibiotics on treatment for suspected lower respiratory tract infection is unclear.

Methods

In 14 U.S. hospitals with high adherence to quality measures for the treatment of pneumonia, we provided guidance for clinicians about national clinical practice recommendations for the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections and the interpretation of procalcitonin assays. We then randomly assigned patients who presented to the emergency department with a suspected lower respiratory tract infection and for whom the treating physician was uncertain whether antibiotic therapy was indicated to one of two groups: the procalcitonin group, in which the treating clinicians were provided with real-time initial (and serial, if the p

SUBMITTER: Huang DT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6197800 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature