The Comparison of Procalcitonin Guidance Administer Antibiotics with Standard Guidelines on Antibiotic Therapy in Children with Lower Respiratory Tract Infections: A Retrospective Study in China.

The Comparison of Procalcitonin Guidance Administer Antibiotics with Standard Guidelines on Antibiotic Therapy in Children with Lower Respiratory Tract Infections: A Retrospective Study in China.

Med Princ Pract. 2017 Jun 01;:

Authors: Wu G, Wu G, Wu S, Wu H

Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To establish the efficacy of an algorithm based on the biomarker procalcitonin (PCT) to reduce antibiotic exposure in pediatric patients with lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI).
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical data of 357 patients (age of <14 years) who were discharged home with lower respiratory tract infections(LRTI) from Jan 1, 2010 to Jul 31, 2016, were analyzed. The antibiotic exposure, antibiotic prescription rate, length of hospital stay and antibiotic-associated adverse effects were compared between PCT group (n=183) and standard group (n=174) using SAS 9.1.3 software.
RESULTS: The rates of overall adverse effect rate were similar in both PCT and standard groups: 42(22.95%), 51(29.31%). The length of hospital stay was not significantly different in both the PCT 9.96 ±5.81 and standard groups 10.58±4.24 days (difference, -0.62%; 95% CI, -1.68% to 0.43%). Antibiotic prescribing rates were significantly different in PCT group from standard group (54.64%) vs (83.91%) [difference -29.26% ,95% CI -38.31%, -20.22%; p= 0.23]). Mean duration of antibiotic exposure in the PCT 3.98 ±2.17 was lower than standard groups 6.66 ±5.59 days (difference, -2.68%; 95% CI, -3.21% to -2.16%).
CONCLUSION: This study showed that PCT guidance of antibiotic treatment in children and adolescents with LRTI reduced duration of antibiotic exposure and antibiotic prescribing rates, not affected adverse effect rate and length of hospital stay. <br> <br>.

PMID: 28578344 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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