Clinical effectiveness of procalcitonin‐ or C‐reactive protein‐guided antibiotic discontinuation protocols for adult patients who are critically ill with sepsis: a rapid systematic review and meta‐analysis
An erratum to this article was published (Anaesthesia, Oct 2026 ↗)
Authors' conclusion
Combining relevant trials suggests that procalcitonin-guided discontinuation protocols may be both safe and effective for patients who are critically ill with sepsis, with no increased risk in mortality.
Study context
- Population
- Adults critically ill with sepsis21 eligible studies
- Comparison
- Procalcitonin- or CRP-guided antibiotic discontinuation protocols vs standard care, or with each other
- Outcome
- Duration of antibiotic therapy and mortality
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Procalcitonin-guided vs Standard careRisk ratio (95% CI)
Mortality; 18 trials, 6228 patients; moderate certainty
0.95(0.83–1.07)
- Duration of antibiotic therapy, reduced; 19 trials, 6382 patients; moderate certainty
- difference 2.0 days (95% CI −2.6 to −1.4)
Original publication
Clinical effectiveness of procalcitonin‐ or C‐reactive protein‐guided antibiotic discontinuation protocols for adult patients who are critically ill with sepsis: a rapid systematic review and meta‐analysis. Anaesthesia. Published 8 January 2026. doi:10.
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