Table 3.
Studies’ Overall Conclusion(s)
| Citation | Procalcitonin Cut-Off Value | Overall Conclusion |
|---|---|---|
| Moreno-García et al5 | 4 cut-off levels were used: 0.2 0.5 1 2 |
1- Procalcitonin (>0.2) is an indicator of bacterial coinfection in COVID-19 patients. 2- Procalcitonin can be used as an antibiotic stewardship tool to de-escalate the use of antibiotics. |
| Atallah et al2 | 2 cut-off levels were used: 0.25 0.5 |
Procalcitonin (>0.25) is an indicator of bacterial coinfection in COVID-19 patients. |
| Richards et al3 | None | Procalcitonin (>50% of baseline) is an indicator of bacterial coinfection in COVID-19 patients. |
| Basnet et al12 | None | Procalcitonin is an indicator of bacterial coinfection in COVID-19 patients. |
| He et al6 | None | Increased procalcitonin levels does not rule in bacterial co-infection; however, low procalcitonin levels can rule out bacterial co-infection and limit antibiotic use. (Sensitive but not specific) |
| Vanhomwegen et al1 | 2 cut-off levels were used: 0.5 2.5 |
Procalcitonin is NOT an indicator of bacterial coinfection in COVID-19 patients. |
| Ming et al7 | None | Procalcitonin is NOT an indicator of bacterial coinfection in COVID-19 patients. (PCT is higher in patients with bacterial co-infection but the results were not statistically significant) |
| Cheng et al13 | 0.1 ng/mL | Procalcitonin (>0.1) is an indicator of bacterial coinfection in COVID-19 patients. |
| Heesom et al21 | 0.5 ng/mL | Procalcitonin can be used as an Antibiotic Stewardship tool to de-escalate the use of antibiotics. |
| Waris et al14 | 0.25 ng/mL | Procalcitonin (>0.25) is an indicator of bacterial coinfection in COVID-19 patients. |
| Hughes et al15 | 0.25 ng/mL | 1- Procalcitonin (>0.25) is an indicator of bacterial coinfection in COVID-19 patients. 2- Procalcitonin can be used as an Antibiotic Stewardship tool to de-escalate the use of antibiotics. |
| Pink et al8 | 0.55 ng/m | 1- Procalcitonin (>0.55) is an indicator of bacterial coinfection in COVID-19 patients. 2- Procalcitonin can be used as an Antibiotic Stewardship tool to de-escalate the use of antibiotics. |
| Peters et al16 | 3 cutoffs were used: <0.25 microg/L 0.25–0.49 microg/L ≥0.5 microg/L |
Procalcitonin can be used as an Antibiotic Stewardship tool to de-escalate the use of antibiotics. |
| May et al4 | 2 cut-off levels were used: 0.5 ng/mL 0.25 ng/m |
Increased procalcitonin levels does not rule in bacterial co-infection; however, low procalcitonin levels can rule out bacterial co-infection and limit antibiotic use. (Sensitive but not specific) |
| Heer et al17 | Peak PCT>0.5 ng/dL | 1- Procalcitonin is NOT an indicator of bacterial coinfection in COVID-19 patients. 2- Procalcitonin should NOT be used as an Antibiotic Stewardship tool to de-escalate the use of antibiotics. |
| Tang et al19 | PCT >0.1 ng/mL | Procalcitonin (>0.1) is an indicator of bacterial coinfection in COVID-19 patients. |
| Garrido et al20 | 2 cut-off levels were used:0.3 ng/mL0.06 ng/m | Procalcitonin is NOT an indicator of bacterial coinfection in COVID-19 patients. |
| Roy et al18 | 0.25 ng/mL | 1- Markedly elevated procalcitonin (>0.25) is an indicator of bacterial coinfection in COVID-19 patients. 2- Procalcitonin can be used as an Antibiotic Stewardship tool to de-escalate the use of antibiotics. |