Comparison 1. Procalcitonin algorithm versus no procalcitonin algorithm stratified by clinical setting.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Mortality at 30 days	32	10046	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.89 [0.78, 1.01]
1.1 Primary care trials	2	1008	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.32 [0.01, 7.98]
1.2 Emergency department trials	14	3805	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.97 [0.70, 1.36]
1.3 Intensive care unit trials	16	5233	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.88 [0.77, 1.00]
2 Treatment failure at 30 days	32	10046	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.90 [0.81, 0.99]
2.1 Primary care trials	2	1008	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.94 [0.72, 1.22]
2.2 Emergency department trials	14	3805	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.85 [0.69, 1.05]
2.3 Intensive care unit trials	16	5233	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.92 [0.81, 1.05]