Can procalcitonin monitoring reduce the length of antibiotic treatment in bloodstream infections?

Antibiotic overconsumption and subsequent bacterial multidrug resistance are associated with increased mortality, length of hospitalisation and healthcare costs. Discontinuation of antibiotic treatment in severe infections, such as bloodstream infections (BSIs), is a demanding clinical decision. In this review, we aim to investigate the usefulness of procalcitonin (PCT) monitoring in guiding appropriate treatment duration in BSIs and its impact on clinical outcomes.

Interactions of Klebsiella pneumoniae with the innate immune system vary in relation to clone and resistance phenotype.

Apart from inadequate antimicrobial treatment, specific virulence factors contribute to the high attributable mortality of infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae. We explored the roles of MDR and clones as virulence determinants of K. pneumoniae and their interaction with innate immunity.