In this trial of 1359 ED patients with lower respiratory tract infections (pneumonia, bronchitis, or COPD exacerbation), they were randomized to PCT-guided antibiotic therapy, or standard therapy. In the PCT group, antibiotics were initiated and discontinued based on pre-specified cut-offs in PCT levels. The PCT group had similar rates of adverse events compared to the control group (15% vs 19%), but had significantly shorter duration of antibiotic use in all 3 subgroups (pneumonia, bronchitis, and COPD) compared to the control group. PCT guided therapy in patients with lower respiratory infections may reduce antibiotic use (abstract).
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September 9, 2009 |
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About the Author: Danielle Scheurer
Danielle Scheurer, MD, MSCR, SFHM is a clinical hospitalist and the Chief Quality Officer at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina, where she also serves as Assistant Professor of Medicine. She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, completed her residency at Duke University, and completed her Masters in Clinical Research at the Medical University of South Carolina. She is also the President of SHM's Board of Directors and previously served as Physician Editor of The Hospitalist, SHM's monthly newsmagazine.
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