Procalcitonin-guided Treatment on Duration of Antibiotic Therapy and Cost in Septic Patients

Effect of Procalcitonin-guided Treatment on Duration of Antibiotic Therapy and Cost in Septic Patients in Korea

This clinical trial is aimed to show a procalcitonin-guided treatment algorithm may shorten duration of antibiotic therapy safely and cost-effectively in sepsis patients of Korean ICU.

Inclusion Criteria:

• All patients with suspicious or confirmed sepsis at admission or during stay in ICU
• Patients with antibiotic duration of less than 48 hours before enrollment

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age less than or equal to 18 years
• Known pregnancy
• Specific infections for which long-term antibiotic treatment for 3 weeks more is strongly recommended: infective endocarditis, empyema, osteomyelitis et al.
• severe immunocompromised patients : HIV infected patients (CD4 count < 200 cells/mm3), Neutropenia (ANC count < 500/mm3)
• Presence of do-not-resuscitate order