The application of procalcitonin in respiratory tract inflammation in padiatrics department

Objective: Children who have respiratory tract inflammation may often have received antibiotics treatments before there is no clinical evidence of bacterial infections. In case of bacterial infections, the plasma concentration of procalcitonin (PCT) will increase. The purpose is to use the plasma procalcitonin levels in children with respiratory tract inflammation to guide clinical treatments, thus, to reduce the use of antibiotics and cut down the produce of drug-fast bacteria. Method: 198 children with respiratory tract inflammation were randomly separated into the reference group and the PCT group (reference group n=98, PCT group n=100). Regular treatments were applied to the reference group, while treatments applied to the PCT group were decided according to the plasma levels of PCT. Result:198 children had the similar clinical background, 88% children of the reference group had been given antibiotics while only 43% of the PCT group had been given antibiotics. All children were doing well after cure. Conclusion: The use of plasma procalcitonin levels can guide the treatments of children with respiratory tract inflammation and reduce the use of antibiotics effectively.