Procalcitonin Use in Pneumonia Patients in the Critical Care Setting

Impact of Measuring Serum Procalcitonin Levels on Duration of Antimicrobial Therapy in Critical Care Patients With Suspected Pneumonia

The goal of the study is to determine the impact of procalcitonin (PCT)-guided therapy on duration of antibiotic therapy in critical care unit (CCU) patients with suspected pneumonia at Mayo Clinic Health System Eau Claire.

Inclusion criteria:

• 18 years old
• admitted to critical care unit
• placed on pneumonia protocol

Exclusion criteria:

• patients who received outpatient antibiotic therapy within previous 21 days