Table 1 Characteristics of included trials
First author (year) | Country | Setting, type of trial | Clinical diagnosis | Type of PCT algorithm and PCT cut- offs used (µg/L) | Patients included in trial | Patients with cancer diagnosis | Adherence to PCT protocol (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annane [57] | France | ICU, Muticenter | Severe sepsis without overt source of infection and negative blood culture | Initiation and duration; R against AB: < 0.5 (< 0.25); R for AB: > 0.5 (> 5.0) | 62 | 5 | 63 |
Bloss [33] | Germany | ICU, Multicenter | Severe sepsis or septic shock | Day 0, 1 = baseline; Discontinuation at day 4,7 and 10 if PCT value dropped at least 50%; other days R against AB: <1.0ng/ml or > 50% drop to previous value | 1089 | 320 | 49.6 |
Briel [58] | Switzerland | Primary care, Multicenter | Upper and lower ARI | Initiation and duration; R against AB: < 0.25 (< 0.1); R for AB: > 0.25 (> 0.5) | 458 | 1 | 85 |
Bouadma [59] | France | ICU, Multicenter | Suspected bacterial infections during ICU stay without prior AB (> 24 h) | Initiation and duration; R against AB: < 0.5 (< 0.25); R for AB: > 0.5 (> 1.0) | 621 | 13 | 47 |
Christ-Crain [60] | Switzerland | ED, Single center | Lower ARI with X-ray confirmation | Initiation; R against AB: < 0.25 (< 0.1); R for AB: > 0.25 (> 0.5) | 243 | 37 | 83 |
Christ-Crain [7] | Switzerland | ED, Medical ward, Single center | CAP with X-ray confirmation | Initiation and duration; R against AB: < 0.25 (< 0.1); R for AB: > 0.25 (> 0.5) | 302 | 69 | 87 |
Kristoffersen [6] | Denmark | ED, Medical ward, Multicenter | Lower ARI without X-ray confirmation | Initiation and duration; R against AB: < 0.25; R for AB: > 0.25 (> 0.5) | 210 | 7 | 59 |
Layios [61] | Belgium | ICU, Single center | Suspected infection | Initiation; R against AB: < 0.5 (< 0.25); R for AB: > 0.5 (> 1.0) | 379 | 52 | 46.3 |
Nobre [62] | Switzerland | ICU, Single center | Suspected severe sepsis or septic shock | Duration; R against AB: < 0.5 (< 0.25) or > 80% drop; R for AB: > 0.5 (> 1.0) | 79 | 10 | 81 |
Oliveira [63] | Brazil | ICU, Multicenter | Severe sepsis or septic shock | Discontinuation; Initial < 1.0: R againt AB: 0,1 at day 4; Initial > 1.0: R against: >90% drop | 94 | 3 | 87.8 |
Schuetz [3] | Switzerland | ED, Medical ward, Multicenter | Lower ARI with X-ray confirmation | Initiation and duration; R against AB: < 0.25 (< 0.1); R for AB: > 0.25 (> 0.5) | 1359 | 167 | 91 |
Shehabi [64] | Australia | ICU, Multicenter | Suspected Sepsis, undifferentiated infections | Duration; R against AB: < 0.25 (< 0.1) or > 90% drop | 394 | 37 | 97 |
Stolz [10] | Switzerland | ED, Medical ward, single center | Exacerbated COPD | Initiation and duration; R against AB: < 0.25 (< 0.1); R for AB: > 0.25 (> 0.5) | 208 | 41 | Not reported |
Stolz [8] | Switzerland, USA | ICU, Multicenter | VAP when intubated for > 48 h | Duration; R against AB: < 0.5 (< 0.25) or > 80% drop; R for AB: > 0.5 (> 1.0) | 101 | 8 | Not reported |
Verduri [65] | Italy | ED, Medical ward, Multicenter | AECOPD | Initiation; R against AB:< 0.1; R for AB: > 0.5 | 178 | 7 | 95.5 |