Evaluation of procalcitonin as a contribution to antimicrobial stewardship in SARS-CoV-2 infection: a retrospective cohort study

It can be a diagnostic challenge to identify COVID-19 patients in whom antibiotics can be safely withheld. We evaluate the effectiveness of a guideline implemented at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that recommends withholding antibiotics in patients with a low serum procalcitonin (PCT), defined as ≤0.25ng/ml. Results showed reduced antibiotic consumption in this patient group, without increase in mortality, alongside a reduction in subsequent carbapenem prescriptions during admission for those with a negative PCT. Our results suggest effectiveness of this guideline, and further research is recommended to identify the optimal cut-off value for procalcitonin in this setting.