S Afr J Surg
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Controlled Clinical Trial
Procalcitonin-guided antibiotic therapy for suspected and confirmed sepsis of patients in a surgical trauma ICU: a prospective, two period cross-over, interventional study.
Biomarkers like procalcitonin (PCT) are an important antimicrobial stewardship tool for critically ill patients. There is little evidence regarding the use of PCT-guided antibiotic algorithms in developing countries. Evidence is also lacking for PCT-based antibiotic algorithms in surgical trauma patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). ⋯ There was no significant difference in duration of antibiotic treatment between the two groups. However, the PCT group had more antibiotic free days alive and lower in-hospital mortality compared to the control group.