Table 1 Overview of studies investigating the use of PCT in different types and sites of infection
From: Procalcitonin for diagnosis of infection and guide to antibiotic decisions: past, present and future
Type of infection | Study designs | PCT cut-off (ug/L) | Benefit of using PCT? | Main conclusions | Selected References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Abdominal Infections | observational | 0.25 | ? | PCT may help to exclude ischemia and necrosis in bowel obstruction | |
Arthritis | observational | 0.1-0.25 | + | PCT differentiates non-infectious (gout) arthritis from true infection | |
Bacteremic infections | observational | 0.25 | ++ | Low PCT levels help to rule out bacteremic infections | |
Blood stream infection (primary) | observational | 0.1 | ++ | PCT differentiates contamination from true infection | [13] |
Bronchitis | RCT | 0.1-0. 5 | +++ | PCT reduces antibiotic exposure in the ED without adverse outcomes | |
COPD exacerbation | RCT | 0.1-0. 5 | +++ | PCT reduces antibiotic exposure in the ED and hospital without adverse outcomes | |
Endocarditis | observational | 2.3 | + | PCT is an independent predictor for acute endocarditis with high diagnostic accuracy | |
Meningitis | before-after | 0.5 | + | PCT reduces antibiotic exposure during outbreak of viral meningitis | |
Neutropenia | observational | 0.1-0.5 | + | PCT is helpful at identifying neutropenic patients with systemic bacterial infection | |
Pancreatitis | observational | 0.25-0.5 | ? | PCT correlates with severity and extend of infected pancreatitis | |
Pneumonia | RCT | 0.1-0. 5; 80-90% ↓ | +++ | PCT reduces antibiotic exposure in the hospital without adverse outcomes | |
Postoperative fever | observational | 0.1-0.5 | + | PCT differentiates non-infectious fever from post-operative infections | [78] |
Postoperative Infections | RCT | 0.5-1.0; 75-85% ↓ | ++ | PCT reduces antibiotic exposure in the surgical ICU without adverse outcomes | |
Severe sepsis/Shock | RCT | 0.25-0.5; 80-90% ↓ | +++ | PCT reduces antibiotic exposure in the ICU without adverse outcomes | |
Upper respiratory tract infections | RCT | 0.1-0.25 | ++ | PCT reduces antibiotic exposure in primary care without adverse outcomes | [58] |
Urinary tract infections | observational | 0.25 | + | PCT correlates with severity of urinary tract infections | |
Ventilator-associated pneumonia | RCT | 0.1-0.25 | ++ | PCT reduces antibiotic exposure without adverse outcomes |