%0 Journal Article
%T Impact of Procalcitonin Monitoring on Duration of Antibiotics in Patients With Sepsis and/or Pneumonia in a Community Hospital Setting
%A Christen Freeman
%A Doug Carroll
%A Elizabeth W. Covington
%A Stephen Eure
%J Journal of Pharmacy Technology
%@ 1549-4810
%D 2018
%R 10.1177/8755122518756333
%X Background: Procalcitonin (PCT) is a biomarker specific for bacterial infections versus viral or noninfectious causes. Utilizing PCT as a guide for antibiotic duration could have benefit in limiting antimicrobial overuse. Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of PCT monitoring on inpatient antibiotic duration for pneumonia and sepsis at a community hospital. Methods: This study utilized a prospective cohort design with a historical control group prior to the availability of PCT testing and a prospective intervention group after the availability of PCT testing at a community hospital. Results: A total of 102 patients (51 retrospective and 51 prospective) were included in the analysis. There was no difference in mean duration of inpatient antibiotics (6.1 ¡À 3.9 vs 5.4 ¡À 2.9 days, P = .50). Additionally, there was no difference in the average time to antibiotic de-escalation, average hospital length of stay, or intensive care unit length of stay. PCT monitoring resulted in a 41% reduction in discharge antibiotics (63% vs 37%, P = .0090) and a 2.2-day reduction in duration of overall inpatient and post-discharge antibiotics (9.5 ¡À 4.5 vs 7.3 ¡À 4.1 days, P = .013). There was no difference in mortality, relapse of infection, or 30-day readmission. Conclusion: PCT monitoring in patients with suspected pneumonia and/or sepsis in the community setting failed to show a reduction in duration of inpatient antibiotics after the introduction of PCT monitoring. However, PCT resulted in significantly fewer discharge antibiotics and overall inpatient plus post-discharge antibiotic duration, with no detrimental effect on mortality or readmission
%K procalcitonin
%K antibiotics
%K pneumonia
%K sepsis
%K antimicrobial stewardship
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/8755122518756333