ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the clinical significance of procalcitonin(PCT)in guiding the optimizing antimi-crobial treatment strategy in ventilator-associated pneumonia(VAP).Methods Sixty patients receiving mechanism ventilation for ≥48 hours in an intensive care unit between November 2011 and April 2013 were randomly divided into control group (n=29)and trail group (n=31),patients in control group stopped antimicrobial use according to guideline,patients in trail group stopped antimicrobial use according to serum procalcitonin level,duration of anti-microbial use and mechanical ventilation between two groups were compared.Results Days of mechanical ventila-tion,length of ICU stay,mortality rates between two groups were not significantly different(all P >0.05);antimi-crobial days in trail group was significantly less than control group([10.70 ±3.78]d vs [13.93 ±3.03 ]d)(t =4.484;P <0.001).Conclusion Serum procalcitonin level plays an important role in the rational use of antimicrobial agents in patient with VAP.