Intensive care unit (severe infections/sepsis) | |
PCT < 0.5 μg/ | Antibiotics should be considered withdrawn |
PCT ≥ 0.5 μg/L | In patients who have improved clinically, subsequent PCT analyses are recommended on days 3 and 5. A decrease of 80% of the initial value suggests that antibiotics are no longer needed. |
Respiratory tract infections (community-acquired pneumonia and acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) | |
PCT < 0.1 μg/L: | Strongly encourage against the continuation of antibiotics |
PCT < 0.25 μg/L: | Encourage against the continuation of antibiotics |
PCT 0.25–0.5 μg/L: | Recommendation for continuing antibiotics |
PCT > 0.5 μg/L: | Strong recommendation for continuing antibiotics |