Procalcitonin Guidance May Lead to Decreased Antibiotic Usage

Using procalcitonin as part of antibiotic therapy management has been shown to reduce the use of antibiotics, according to a new AHRQ Effective Health Care Program review. Using procalcitonin to inform decisions about antibiotic therapy was associated with reductions in antibiotic usage, while procalcitonin-guided antibiotic discontinuation did not increase morbidity in critically ill patients, the review found. However, procalcitonin-guided intensification of antibiotic therapy to broaden the spectrum of bacterial coverage was not found to improve outcomes in critically ill patients. The review also found strong evidence that procalcitonin-guided treatment reduced antibiotic prescription rates and duration of antibiotic therapy in various clinical settings, without increasing morbidity or mortality. This evidence was especially strong among patients with respiratory tract infections, which are prone to antibiotic misuse. Future studies will help determine if these findings will translate to high-risk groups, such as pregnant, immunocompromised, neonatal, and pediatric patients. Select to access the review.