Effect of the Procalcitonin Assay on Antibiotic Use in Critically Ill Children.

Authors :: Ross, Rachael K.
Keele, Luke
Kubis, Sherri
Lautz, Andrew J.
Dziorny, Adam C.
Denson, Adam R.
O'Connor, Kathleen A.
Chilutti, Marianne R.
Weiss, Scott L.
Gerber, Jeffrey S.
Source :: Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society. Jun2018, Vol. 7 Issue 2, pe43-e46. 4p.
Publication Year :: 2018
Abstract: We retrospectively studied the effect of introducing procalcitonin into clinical practice on antibiotic use within a large academic pediatric intensive care unit. In the absence of a standardized algorithm, availability of the procalcitonin assay did not reduce the frequency of antibiotic initiations or the continuation of antibiotics for greater than 72 hours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]