How to overcome antibiotic overuse in COVID-19 patients?

Procalcitonin (PCT) is a biomarker widely used to assess the risk of bacterial infection and to aid in antibiotic stewardship in patients with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) and sepsis.

Evolving evidence now demonstrates that PCT can also be a valuable tool in the current COVID-19 pandemic to aid in early identification of patients at low risk of bacterial co-infection on admission as well as assist in the detection of bacterial superinfection in hospitalized patients.

Dr. Valerie Vaughn (University of Utah, USA) and Dr. Neil Powell (Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, UK) share the latest information and own experience on the role of Procalcitonin (PCT) in the management of these critical patients.

A Certificate of Attendance will be sent to participants.

Learning Objectives

• Provide an overview on the risk of bacterial co-infection in COVID-19 patients and the challenge of avoiding antibiotic prescriptions overuse in these patients
• Describe how PCT can differentiate between viral and bacterial respiratory tract infections and aid in antibiotic decision making in patients with lower respiratory tract infections
• Review the unfolding data examining the utility of PCT in antibiotic stewardship in COVID-19 patients suspected of bacterial co-infection
• Present and discuss clinical experience and clinical case reports related to PCT and COVID-19

Agenda

Bacterial coinfections as risk factor in COVID-19 patients - how does the pandemic impact antibiotic prescription?
Results from multicentric study on how a more rational use of antibiotics in COVID-19 patients could be achieved
Dr. Valerie Vaughn, University of Utah, USA

Procalcitonin as a tool for differential diagnosis of bacterial infection and antibiotic stewardship in LRTI
First experience on its utility for antibiotic stewardship in COVID-19 patients
Dr. Neil Powell, Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, UK

Q&A

Registration available online here