Clinical Significance of Serum Procalcitonin Levels in Optimizing Antibiotic Therapy for Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Objective To explore the clinical significance of procalcitonin(PCT)in guiding the optimizing antibiotic treatment strategy for patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD).Methods 96 patients with AECOPD were selected(inclusion criteria for the first day serum PCT0.25 μg/L),were randomly divided into PCT group(n=50)and the conventional therapy group(n=46).For patients in PCT group,the use of antibiotics was based on PCT serum levels,antibiotics were stopped when PCT0.25 μg/L,and the use of antibiotics was based on clinical symptoms of patients in conventional treatment group.The main observation indexes included the days of antibiotics use,hospital stay,clinical efficacy,aggravating cases and death cases.Results For patients in PCT group,the days of antibiotics use were 7～10 d,while the days of antibiotics use were 2 weeks or longer for patients in the conventional therapy group,and there was a significant difference(P0.01).Ther were significant difference in days of hospitalization(P0.01)and double infection incidence(P0.05),while there were no significant difference(P0.05)in clinical efficacy,mortality,and aggravating cases,between the two groups.Conclusion PCT strategy guiding antibiotic therapy is safe and effective in patients with AECOPD,and can reduce the excessive use of antibiotics and reduce the double infection opportunities.