Use of serum procalcitonin levels in treatment decisions for adult patients in the intensive care unit
Sinclair A, Dendukuri N, McGregor M
Record ID 32012000904
English
Authors' recommendations:
• Single PCT levels are only moderately sensitive and accurate in the diagnosis of infection, using infection confirmed
by culture as a comparator. Such a test would not have the sensitivity required to inform a decision to withhold
antibiotic therapy in a critically ill patient.
• Measurement of single or serial PCT levels as a part of a treatment algorithm do not appear to be useful in
determining when to start or escalate antibiotics, although only a limited number of studies have tested it.
• Measurement of serial PCT levels as part of a treatment algorithm may have some usefulness in determining when
to discontinue antibiotics. Studies have not compared PCT algorithms to best practice intended to reduce antibiotic
use, and studies to date have not been large enough to detect small differences in clinical outcomes, especially
mortality. Three large studies are ongoing.
Details
Project Status:
Completed
Year Published:
2012
URL for published report:
http://www.mcgill.ca/tau/files/tau/muhc_tau_2012_62_procalcitonin.pdf
English language abstract:
An English language summary is available
Publication Type:
Not Assigned
Country:
Canada
MeSH Terms
- Humans
- Intensive Care Units
- Treatment Outcome
- Calcitonin
- Protein Precursors
Contact
Organisation Name:
Technology Assessment Unit of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC)
Contact Address:
Technology Assessment Unit of the MUHC, 536-5100 Boul. Maisonneuve O, Montreal, H4A 3T2
Contact Name:
eva.suarthana@mcgill.ca
Contact Email:
nisha.almeida@muhc.mcgill.ca
Copyright:
Technology Assessment Unit of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC)
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