{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,14]],"date-time":"2026-05-14T16:30:49Z","timestamp":1778776249710,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":44,"publisher":"S. Karger AG","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,16]],"date-time":"2026-03-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1773619200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,16]],"date-time":"2026-03-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1773619200000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Med Princ Pract"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Objectives: This systematic review and meta-analysis assesses the efficacy and safety of procalcitonin (PCT)-guided therapy compared to the standard of care in septic patients. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed using the Cochrane Library, &lt;ext-link ext-link-type=\"uri\" xlink:href=\"http:\/\/ClinicalTrials.gov\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"&gt;ClinicalTrials.gov&lt;\/ext-link&gt;, Embase, and MEDLINE, covering studies from their inception to April 2025. RevMan was used to perform a random effects meta-analysis, and forest plots were used to visualize the pooled estimates. The Mantel-Haenszel method was applied to analyze dichotomous outcomes. The inverse variance method was applied to analyze continuous outcomes. Results: Sixteen randomized controlled trials, with a total of 6,885 patients, were included. PCT-guided therapy was associated with significantly improved antibiotic treatment duration (standardized mean difference [SMD] \u22120.81, 95% confidence interval [CI]: \u22121.17 to \u22120.45, I2 97%), duration of mechanical ventilation (SMD \u22120.47, 95% CI: \u22120.57 to \u22120.37, I2 0%), and antibiotic-free days (SMD 0.14, 95% CI: 0.04\u20130.25, I2 0%). Both groups were comparable in terms of ICU mortality, hospital mortality, 30-day mortality, 90-day mortality, ICU stay, hospital stay, new infection, and clinical recovery. PCT was associated with greater reinfection (risk ratio 1.12, 95% CI: 1.00\u20131.26, I2 0%). Conclusion: PCT-guided therapy was associated with shorter antibiotic treatment duration, though substantial heterogeneity was observed, while mortality outcomes were comparable between groups. Standardized PCT-based protocols are needed to improve consistency and clinical applicability.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1159\/000551475","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,16]],"date-time":"2026-03-16T17:00:46Z","timestamp":1773680446000},"page":"1-12","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Efficacy and Safety of Procalcitonin-Guided Antibiotic Therapy versus Standard of Care for Sepsis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis"],"prefix":"10.1159","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0794-7013","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Hafsa Arshad Azam","family":"Raja","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Muhammad 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