Evaluation of procalcitonin role in the diagnosis and treatment of elderly patients with pneumonia

Objective To evaluate the value of serum procalcitonin( PCT) diagnosis and antibiotic treatment in elderly patients with pneumonia. Methods 100 elderly patients with pneumonia were selected as the observation group,and then were divided into the bacteria group( the group A),the virus group( the group B),and the mycoplasma( the group C). The inflammatory markers including PCT,CRP and WBC parameter values were measured at the same time. The bacteria group was divided into the PCT group( A1) and the control group( group A2).The level of PCT in the group A1 was to guide antibiotic use. Time of antibiotics use,clinical efficiency,and duration of hospital stay were analyzed. Results The level of PCT increased the most in the group A,showing a high sensitivity and specificity to bacterial infection. After effective treatment,the improvement of inflammatory markers,clinical efficiency,and duration of hospital stay was more pronounced in the group A1 than in the group A2( P 0. 05). Conclusion PCT has important clinical value in diagnosis and treatment of elderly patients with pneumonia.