Procalcitonin-guided initiation of antibiotics in AECOPD inpatients: study protocol for a multicenter randomised controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Current antibiotic prescription for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is generally based on the Anthonisen criteria in The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (GOLD) guideline that have a potential risk of antibiotics overuse. The dilemma is to identify patients who are most likely to benefit from antibiotics while avoiding unnecessary antibiotic use. Procalcitonin (PCT), a more sensitive and specific biomarker of bacterial infection than other conventional laboratory tests, has the potential to determine those patients in whom antibiotics would be beneficial. It is unclear whether PCT-guided antibiotic therapy is safe and effective for patients hospitalised with AECOPD. The study hypothesis is that PCT-guided

SUBMITTER: Huang L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8344287 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature