Summary: <p>In this episode of Critical Matters, we discuss the role of procalcitonin as a biomarker in lower respiratory tract infections and sepsis. Our guest is Dr. David Huang, the primary investigator in the recently published <em>Procalcitonin-Guided Use of Antibiotics for Lower Respiratory Tract Infections (ProACT)</em> clinical trial. He discusses lessons learned from this very important study and offers insight into the use of procalcitonin in clinical practice.</p> <h2>ADDITIONAL RESOURCES</h2> <ul> <li> <em>Procalcitonin-Guided Use of Antibiotics for Lower Respiratory Tract Infections (ProACT)</em> clinical trial: <a href="https://bit.ly/2BTZNsf" rel="noopener">https://bit.ly/2BTZNsf</a> </li> <li>A meta-analysis evaluating the effect of procalcitonin-guided treatment on mortality in acute respiratory infections: <a href="https://bit.ly/2Un6Lgz" rel="noopener">https://bit.ly/2Un6Lgz</a> </li> <li>FDA Executive Summary on Procalcitonin assay: <a href="https://bit.ly/2EiBN4r" rel="noopener">https://bit.ly/2EiBN4r</a> </li> </ul> <h2>BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE</h2> <ul> <li> <em>7 Habits of Highly Effective People </em>by Stephen R. Covey: <a href="https://amzn.to/2Ss0mPq" rel="noopener">https://amzn.to/2Ss0mPq</a> </li> <li> <em>Partners of the Heart</em> by Vivien Thomas: <a href="https://amzn.to/2QC6vLP" rel="noopener">https://amzn.to/2QC6vLP</a> </li> </ul>
