Implementation of a procalcitonin assay requires appropriate stewardship to result in improved antimicrobial use

摘要

Elevation of procalcitonin (PCT) has a high correlation for the presence of sepsis because of bacterial infection. Levels of PCT have been shown to increase within 6 to 12 hours of the initial bacterial infection, and circulating PCT levels are expected to decrease by half daily when the infection is controlled by the host immune system and antibiotics (ABX).