Abstract
It can be a diagnostic challenge to identify patients with coronavirus disease 2019 in whom antibiotics can be safely withheld. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a guideline implemented at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that recommends withholding antibiotics in patients with low serum procalcitonin (PCT), defined as ≤0.25 ng/mL. Results showed reduced antibiotic consumption in patients with PCT ≤0.25 ng/mL with no increase in mortality, alongside a reduction in subsequent carbapenem prescriptions during admission. The results support the effectiveness of this guideline, and further research is recommended to identify the optimal cut-off value for PCT in this setting.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 103-107 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Journal of Hospital Infection |
Volume | 110 |
Early online date | 20 Jan 2021 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Apr 2021 |