Table 2 Effect of semi-quantitative procalcitonin assay on adequacy of empirical antibiotics and mortality in septic patients
Outcomes | Semi-quantitative PCT assay, n(%) | RR (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â | Examined | Not examined | Â | Â |
Empirical antibiotic initiation time | Â | Â | Â | |
   ≤6 hours | 83 (87.4) | 36 (35.3) | 2.48 (1.88 to 3.26) | <0.001 |
   >6 hours | 12 (12.6) | 66 (64.7) |  |  |
Appropriateness of empirical antibiotics | Â | Â | Â | |
   Appropriate | 88 (92.6) | 95 (93.1) | 0.99 (0.92 to 1.08) | 0.890 |
   Inappropriate | 7 (7.4) | 7 (6.9) |  |  |
14-day mortality | Â | Â | Â | Â |
   Yes | 26 (27.4) | 53 (52.0) | 0.53 (0.36 to 0.77) | <0.001 |
   No | 69 (72.6) | 49 (48.0) |  |  |