Utilizing procalcitonin in a clinical setting to help differentiate between aspiration pneumonia and aspiration pneumonitis.

Objective: Aspiration can lead to complications such as aspiration pneumonia (ASPNA) or aspiration pneumonitis. Use of procalcitonin (PCT) assays has been supported to help differentiate between bacterial and nonbacterial etiologies for infection. We hypothesize PCT levels will differ significantly in patients with ASPNA versus aspiration pneumonitis.