title: [A procalcitonin-guided algorithm for pneumonia may reduce antibiotic use and treatment duration].
abstract: Reduction of antimicrobial resistance in microorganisms is imperative. Pneumonia is important in this matter because of its high incidence, subjective diagnostic criteria, and variations in aetiology. Research has focused on the use of a procalcitonin-guided algorithm for antimicrobial stewardship with promising reductions in antibiotic use and treatment duration, but more research is needed in order to draw a final conclusion. Lack of objective diagnostic criteria, methodological challenges in research, a future focus on primary care, and the need for a cost-benefit analysis should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Lunge- og Infektionsmedicinsk Afdeling, Hillerød Hospital, Dyrehavevej 29, 3400 Hillerød, Denmark. soccus@gmail.com
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: Bjarne Ørskov
authors.initials: BØ
authors.lastname: Lindhardt
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D004363:Drug Utilization; D006801:Humans; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D011498:Protein Precursors; D002116:Calcitonin; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide