Objective To evaluate the value of serumprocalcitonin( PCT) guided antibiotic strategy in the treatment of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease( AECOPD) .
Methods From August 2011 to June 2012, a total of 96 patients hospitalized for AECOPD were randomly assigned into a PCT-guided group( n = 48) and an empirical therapy group( n = 48) . The PCT levels of PCT-guided group were measured by immunochemiluminometric assays before and 5,7, 10 days after treatment. The PCT-guided group was treated with antibiotics according to serum PCT levels, ie. antibiotic treatment was applied when PCT level ≥ 0. 25 μg/L and was discouraged when PCT level lt; 0. 25 μg/L. The empirical therapy group received antibiotics according to physician’s decision. The antibiotics usage rate, length of antibiotic exposure, length of hospitalization, clinical efficacy, hospital mortality, rate of invasive mechanical ventilation and costs of hospitalization were recorded.
Results The antibiotics usage rate, length of antibiotic exposure, length of hospitalization, and costs of hospitalization in the PCT-guided group were all lower than those of the empirical therapy group( P lt;0.05) while clinical efficacy, hospital mortality and rate of invasive mechanical ventilation were similar in two groups(P gt;0.05) .
Conclusion PCT guided antibiotic strategy can be used in the treatment of AECOPD, which may reduce the dose of antibiotic drugs to avoid bacterial resistance and lower costs of hospitalization.
Citation： XIE Lan,MAO Xin,LI Jangang,WANG Rujia.. The Role of Serum Procalcitonin in Antibiotics Use for Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Chinese Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 2013, 12(3): 237-239. doi: 10 . 7507 /1671 -6205 . 20130057 Copy