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Neopterin Blood Levels: A Basis for Deciding to Use Antibiotics in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Patients

Neopterin Blood Levels: A Basis for Deciding to Use Antibiotics in Intensive Care Unit (ICU)... Summary The hypothesis that neopterin blood levels provide a reliable basis for the decision to use antibiotics was tested prospectively in 536 traumatised intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Where infection was suspected antibiotics were given either if deemed necessary (control group) or if neopterin levels were>40 nmol/L (study group). The number of patients with infections (24% vs. 29%), the number of infectious episodes per patient (3.1 vs. 4.8 ), the incidence of infections with Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas, and the treatment costs (minus 20%) were lower in the study group. Mean length of ICU stay and outcome remained unchanged. We conclude that it is beneficial to base the decision to use antibiotics in ICU patients with suspected infections on neopterin testing. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Pteridines de Gruyter

Neopterin Blood Levels: A Basis for Deciding to Use Antibiotics in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Patients

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References (52)

Publisher
de Gruyter
Copyright
Copyright © 1996 by the
ISSN
0933-4807
eISSN
2195-4720
DOI
10.1515/pteridines.1996.7.12.1
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Summary The hypothesis that neopterin blood levels provide a reliable basis for the decision to use antibiotics was tested prospectively in 536 traumatised intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Where infection was suspected antibiotics were given either if deemed necessary (control group) or if neopterin levels were>40 nmol/L (study group). The number of patients with infections (24% vs. 29%), the number of infectious episodes per patient (3.1 vs. 4.8 ), the incidence of infections with Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas, and the treatment costs (minus 20%) were lower in the study group. Mean length of ICU stay and outcome remained unchanged. We conclude that it is beneficial to base the decision to use antibiotics in ICU patients with suspected infections on neopterin testing.

Journal

Pteridines – de Gruyter

Published: Feb 1, 1996

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