Effect of procalcitonin-guided antibiotic treatment on clinical outcomes in intensive care unit patients with infection and sepsis patients: a patient-level meta-analysis of randomized trials
Yannick Wirz,
Marc A. Meier,
Lila Bouadma,
Charles E. Luyt,
Michel Wolff,
Jean Chastre,
Florence Tubach,
Stefan Schroeder,
Vandack Nobre,
Djillali Annane,
Konrad Reinhart,
Pierre Damas,
Maarten Nijsten,
Arezoo Shajiei,
Dylan W. deLange,
Rodrigo O. Deliberato,
Carolina F. Oliveira,
Yahya Shehabi,
Jos A. H. van Oers,
Albertus Beishuizen,
Armand R. J. Girbes,
Evelien de Jong,
Beat Mueller,
Philipp Schuetz
Affiliations
Yannick Wirz
Medical University Department, Kantonsspital Aarau
Marc A. Meier
Medical University Department, Kantonsspital Aarau
Lila Bouadma
Service de Réanimation Médicale, Université Paris 7-Denis-Diderot, AP-HP
Charles E. Luyt
Service de Réanimation Médicale, Université Paris 6-Pierre-et-Marie-Curie
Michel Wolff
Service de Réanimation Médicale, Université Paris 7-Denis-Diderot, AP-HP
Jean Chastre
Service de Réanimation Médicale, Université Paris 6-Pierre-et-Marie-Curie
Florence Tubach
Département d’Epidémiologie Biostatistique et Recherche Clinique, AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris Nord Val de Seine
Stefan Schroeder
Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Krankenhaus Dueren
Vandack Nobre
Department of Intensive Care, Hospital das Clinicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Djillali Annane
Critical Care Department, Hôpital Raymond Poincaré, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris
Konrad Reinhart
Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Jena University Hospital
Pierre Damas
Department of General Intensive Care, University Hospital of Liege
Maarten Nijsten
University Medical Centre, University of Groningen
Arezoo Shajiei
University Medical Centre, University of Groningen
Dylan W. deLange
University Medical Center Utrecht
Rodrigo O. Deliberato
Laboratory for Critical Care Research, Critical Care Unit, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein
Carolina F. Oliveira
Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Yahya Shehabi
Critical Care and Peri-operative Medicine, Monash Health
Jos A. H. van Oers
Elisabeth Tweesteden Hospital
Albertus Beishuizen
Medisch Spectrum Twente
Armand R. J. Girbes
VU University Medical Centre
Evelien de Jong
VU University Medical Centre
Beat Mueller
Medical University Department, Kantonsspital Aarau
Philipp Schuetz
Medical University Department, Kantonsspital Aarau
Abstract Background The clinical utility of serum procalcitonin levels in guiding antibiotic treatment decisions in patients with sepsis remains unclear. This patient-level meta-analysis based on 11 randomized trials investigates the impact of procalcitonin-guided antibiotic therapy on mortality in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with infection, both overall and stratified according to sepsis definition, severity, and type of infection. Methods For this meta-analysis focusing on procalcitonin-guided antibiotic management in critically ill patients with sepsis of any type, in February 2018 we updated the database of a previous individual patient data meta-analysis which was limited to patients with respiratory infections only. We used individual patient data from 11 trials that randomly assigned patients to receive antibiotics based on procalcitonin levels (the “procalcitonin-guided” group) or the current standard of care (the “controls”). The primary endpoint was mortality within 30 days. Secondary endpoints were duration of antibiotic treatment and length of stay. Results Mortality in the 2252 procalcitonin-guided patients was significantly lower compared with the 2230 control group patients (21.1% vs 23.7%; adjusted odds ratio 0.89, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.8 to 0.99; p = 0.03). These effects on mortality persisted in a subgroup of patients meeting the sepsis 3 definition and based on the severity of sepsis (assessed on the basis of the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, occurrence of septic shock or renal failure, and need for vasopressor or ventilatory support) and on the type of infection (respiratory, urinary tract, abdominal, skin, or central nervous system), with interaction for each analysis being > 0.05. Procalcitonin guidance also facilitated earlier discontinuation of antibiotics, with a reduction in treatment duration (9.3 vs 10.4 days; adjusted coefficient −1.19 days, 95% CI −1.73 to −0.66; p < 0.001). Conclusion Procalcitonin-guided antibiotic treatment in ICU patients with infection and sepsis patients results in improved survival and lower antibiotic treatment duration.
