Table 5 Description of studies assessing the properties of Procalcitonin (PCT) for identifying bacterial vs non-bacterial AECOPD
Author | Setting | Antibiotics or Steroids in the exclusion criteria (length of exclusion) | GOLD Stage of Cohort | Definition of Bacterial Cause of Exacerbation | Number of Exacerbations | Number of Exacerbations with Bacterial Cause | Mean PCT (SD; ng/mL) Bacterial Exacerbation | Mean PCT (SD; ng/mL) Non-bacterial Exacerbation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Abedini [24] | H | Neither | I–IV | Positive sputum culture | 68 | 26 |  +  |  +  |
Bafadhel [39] | OP | Antibiotics & Steroids | I–IV | Positive sputum culture OR total aerobic count > 107 CFU | 158 | 84 | 0.06 (0.04)* | 0.06 (0.04)* |
Chang [14] | H | Neither | I–IV | Positive sputum culture | 72 | 30 |  +  |  +  |
Daniels [27] | H | Antibiotics & Steroids | I–IV | Positive sputum culture | 243 | 142 | 0.06 (0.04–0.11)* | 0.06 (0.04–0.08)* |
Daubin [10] | ICU | Neither | I–IV | Positive Gram stain OR tracheobronchial aspirate > 105 CFU/mL OR positive blood culture without extrapulmonary focus | 39 | 5 | 0.081 (0.062–0.189)* | 0.098 (0.065–0.170)* |
Ergan [11] | ICU | Neither | III–IV | Sputum sample > 106 CFU OR endotracheal/tracheal aspirate > 105 CFU OR mini-bronchoalveolar lavage > 104 CFU | 52 | 16 | 0.41 (0.12–0.99)* | 0.18 (0.07–0.37)* |
Falsey [18] | H | Antibiotics & Steroids |  +  | Positive serum & sputum cultures, nose & throat swab & urine analysis | 104 | 32 | 0.32 (0.57) | 0.20 (0.66) |
Kawamatawong [29] | H | Neither | II–IV | Positive sputum culture for aerobic pathogens | 62 | 29 | 0.30 (0.04–17.6)* | Viral = 0.026 (0.07–18.48)* Non-pathogenic = 0.09 (0.03–19.29)* |
Lacoma [30] | H | Neither |  +  | Positive sputum culture | 161 | 76 | 0.10 (0.07–0.22)* | 0.10 (0.06–0.21)* |
Li [31] | H | Antibiotics (4 weeks) |  +  | Positive sputum culture | 164 | 98 | 2.52 (2.89) | 0.17 (0.07) |
Nseir [12] | ICU | Neither | II–IV | Endotracheal aspirate > 106 CFU/mL | 98 | 40 | 0.67 (1.3) | 0.66 (1.2) |
Qian [38] | H & OP | Antibiotics & Steroids |  +  | Positive sputum culture | 150 | 82 | 0.26 (0.12) | 0.17 (10.08) |
Scherr [22] | H | Neither | I–IV | Positive sputum culture | 108 | 65 | 0.29 (0.6) | 0.14 (0.12) |
Tanriverdi [13] | ICU | Neither |  +  | Positive sputum culture > 105 CFU/mL | 77 | 28 | 2.93 (6.6) | 0.75 (1.29) |
Van de Geijn [37] | H | Antibiotics (2 weeks) & Steroids (2 weeks) | I–IV | Combination of clinical observations, sputum culture, X-ray images & lab results | 45 | 22 | 1.15 (2.88) | 0.05 (0.03) |
Xiong [35] | H | Antibiotics (2 weeks) & Steroids (2 weeks) | I–IV | Positive sputum culture | 78 | 38 | 1.63 (0.85) | 0.35 (0.27) |
Xu [36] | H | Antibiotics (4 weeks) |  +  | Positive sputum culture | 60 | 26 | 0.35 (0.03) | 0.14 (0.02) |