Effectiveness and Safety of Procalcitonin-Guided Antibiotic Therapy in Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in “Real Life”: An International, Multicenter Poststudy Survey (ProREAL)

Background In controlled studies, procalcitonin (PCT) has safely and effectively reduced antibiotic drug use for lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). However, controlled trial data may not reflect real life. Methods We performed an observational quality surveillance in 14 centers in Switzerland, France, and the United States. Consecutive adults with LRTI presenting to emergency departments or outpatient offices were enrolled and registered on a website, which provided a previously published PCT algorithm for antibiotic guidance. The primary end point was duration of antibiotic therapy within 30 days. Results Of 1759 patients, 86.4% had a final diagnosis of LRTI (community-acquired pneumonia, 53.7%; acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 17.1%; and bronchitis, 14.4%). Algorithm compliance overall was 68.2%, with differences between diagnoses (bronchitis, 81.0%; AECOPD, 70.1%; and community-acquired pneumonia, 63.7%; P  Conclusions This study validates previous results from controlled trials in real-life conditions and demonstrates that following a PCT algorithm effectively reduces antibiotic use without increasing the risk of complications. Preexisting differences in antibiotic prescribing affect compliance with antibiotic stewardship efforts. Trial Registration isrctn.org Identifier: ISRCTN40854211