Effect of procalcitonin-based guidelines vs standard guidelines on antibiotic use in lower respiratory tract infections: the ProHOSP randomized controlled trial.

Journal article

CONTEXT: In previous smaller trials, a procalcitonin (PCT) algorithm reduced antibiotic use in patients with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). OBJECTIVE: To examine whether a PCT algorithm can reduce antibiotic exposure without increasing the risk for serious adverse outcomes. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: A multicenter, noninferiority, randomized controlled trial in emergency departments of 6 tertiary care hospitals in Switzerland with an open intervention of 1359 patients with mo...

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Authors: Schuetz, P; Christ-Crain, M; Thomann, R; Falconnier, C; Wolbers, M

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: JAMA
• Volume: 302
• Issue: 10
• Pages: 1059-1066
• Publication date: 2009-09-01
• DOI: 10.1001/jama.2009.1297
• EISSN: 1538-3598
• ISSN: 0098-7484
• Language: English
• Keywords: Decision Support Techniques; Female; Drug Utilization; Middle Aged; Respiratory Tract Infections; Male; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Treatment Outcome; Protein Precursors; Emergency Service, Hospital; ProHOSP Study Group; Aged; Humans; Calcitonin; Algorithms; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Length of Stay