Abstract
BACKGROUND: Efficient management of sepsis requires precise antibiotic therapy. This study examines the efficacy of guiding such therapy using Procalcitonin (PCT), C-Reactive Protein (CRP), and albumin levels. METHODS: A total of 127 adult sepsis patients were assigned to either standard care or a biomarker-guided group where antibiotic use was adjusted based on biomarker levels. RESULTS: The biomarker-guided approach significantly reduced the duration of antibiotic therapy (9.0 vs. 10.5 days, P=0.04) and expedited antibiotic de-escalation. Hospital costs were lower in the biomarker-guided group (20,000 vs. 24,000 CNY, P=0.04), though reductions in secondary infections did not reach statistical significance. There was no significant difference in 28-day mortality rates. CONCLUSION: Biomarker-guided antibiotic therapy can enhance the efficiency of treatment in sepsis, reducing both duration and cost without impacting patient safety. These findings suggest the potential benefits of incorporating biomarkers into standard sepsis management protocols.