Status:

RECRUITING

KInetics of Procalcitonin to Reduce Unnecessary aNtibiotic Use - Comparing Procalcitonin Kinetics-guided and Absolute Procalcitonin Value-guided Antibiotic Initiation in Reducing Unnecessary Antibiotic Use in Critically Ill Patients

Lead Sponsor:

Semmelweis University

Conditions:

Infection

Sepsis

Eligibility:

All Genders

18+ years

Phase:

NA

Brief Summary

The study aims to compare the efficacy and safety of an absolute procalcitonin (PCT) value-guided antibiotic initiation protocol and a protocol using the kinetics of PCT (the difference between the ac...

Detailed Description

Appropriate antibiotic (AB) therapy is still a big challenge in intensive care units today. More than 50% of our patients are considered potentially infected, and infection alone can double mortality;...

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

  • Adult (18 years \< ) non-surgical, surgical, or trauma patients
  • Suspected new-onset infection on admission or during ICU stay
  • The source of infection is known or highly suspected, and source control has been implemented if needed (i.e., removal of an infected device (e.g., central line, endoprosthesis)
  • Two PCT values are available - one on the day of suspicion of infection and one 24±4 hours earlier.
  • Microbiology sampling has to be performed (according to all presumed sources - blood culture -aerobic and anaerobic, lower respiratory tract sample (tracheal aspirate/bronchoalveolar lavage), urine, etc.).
  • Written informed consent of the patient (or legal guardian if the patient cannot provide consent)

Exclusion

  • Septic shock (hypotension requiring vasopressor therapy to maintain mean blood pressure of 65 mmHg or greater and having a serum lactate level greater than 2 mmol/L after adequate fluid resuscitation)
  • Infections for which long-term antibiotic treatment is strongly recommended (e.g., infective endocarditis, osteoarticular infections, chronic prostatitis, tuberculosis)
  • Infections related to primary surgical intervention and adequate source control cannot be guaranteed (e.g., fecal peritonitis, pancreatic necrosectomy, infective necrotizing fascitis - i.e., Fournier's gangrene),
  • Indisputable infections (e.g., hepatic abscess, empyema)
  • Poor chance of survival (i.e., expected ICU stay less than 24 hours or initial Acute Physiology and Health Evaluation Score II (APACHE II) \>30)
  • Admissions after cardiopulmonary resuscitation
  • Severe immunosuppression other than steroid use
  • stem-cell transplant recipients
  • solid organ transplant patients
  • HIV infection with a CD4 count of less than 200 cells/mm3
  • Neutropenia with less than 500 neutrophils/mm3
  • Patients on ABs within 72 hours before inclusion
  • Patients in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Women of childbearing age will be screened by a urine pregnancy test before inclusion in the study.

Key Trial Info

Start Date :

November 6 2025

Trial Type :

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation :

ESTIMATED

End Date :

December 1 2027

Estimated Enrollment :

250 Patients enrolled

Trial Details

Trial ID

NCT07211620

Start Date

November 6 2025

End Date

December 1 2027

Last Update

January 9 2026

Active Locations (2)

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Page 1 of 1 (2 locations)

1

Saint Margaret's Hospital

Budapest, Hungary, 1032

2

Semmelweis University, Department of Intensive Therapy

Budapest, Hungary, 1082