Lung ultrasound and procalcitonin, improving antibiotic management and avoiding radiation exposure in pediatric critical patients with bacterial pneumonia: a randomized clinical trial

Table 1 Analysis of the antibiotic indication

Image findings PCT value	Basal visit			First visit			Second visit
Image findings PCT value	n	A (%)	p	n	A (%)	p	n	A (%)	p
LUS N + PCT < 1	52	23 (44.2)	0.59	52	17 (32.7)	0.44	52	17 (32.7)	0.44
CXR N + PCT < 1	23	12 (52.2)	0.59	23	9 (39.1)	0.44	23	9 (39.1)	0.44
LUS a + PCT > 1	17	17 (100)	0.28	17	16 (94.1)	0.21	17	16 (94.1)	0.21
CXR a + PCT > 1	25	25 (100)	0.28	25	25 (100)	0.21	25	25 (100)	0.21
LUS a + PCT < 1	17	17 (100)	0.07	17	17(100)	0.01	17	17 (100)	0.01
CXR a + PCT < 1	42	32 (76.9)	0.07	42	26 (61.9)	0.01	42	26 (61.9)	0.01
LUS N + PCT > 1	10	10 (100)	0.81	10	10 (100)	0.45	10	10 (100)	0.45
CXR N + PCT > 1	8	8 (100)	0.81	8	7 (75)	0.45	8	7 (75)	0.45

The first column of each visit shows the number of patients with the combination of the imaging test and PCT results. The second column shows the number of patients who received antibiotic and the percentage it represents
LUS: lung ultrasound, CXR: chest X-ray, PCT: procalcitonin, n: number, A: antibiotic, N: normal, a: altered (bacterial pneumonia pattern by image test)

ISSN: 2047-783X