Procalcitonin in Early Antibiotic Interruption in Patient With Bacterial Pulmonary infeCtion and Acute Heart Failure

Introduction: Acute Heart Failure is frequently decompensated by pulmonary infection, but the diagnosis of pulmonary infection sometimes is difficult in these patients due to similar signals and clinical symptoms in both pathologies. Furthermore, when it is possible the diagnosis of pulmonary infection, physicians may have difficult to determine etiology and delaying antibiotic therapy. Procalcitonin (PCT) have been used like a biomarker to determine the period of use of antibiotics in patients with acute respiratory infections. It is specific for bacterial infections and it have showed as a marker of severity infection and may help to determine interruption period of antibiotic therapy in a safety way for the patient. Aim: Evaluate levels of PCT related to interruption of antibiotics in patients with decompensated acute heart failure (DAHF) with suspected bacterial pulmonary infection. Methods: In this pilot project will be included around 100 patients, randomized in two groups: group A (PCT levels may guide the interruption of antibiotic at day 5) or group B (antibiotic period will be determined by the physician without the knowledge of PCT levels). Will be collected laboratorial and clinical data at days 0,3 and 5. Both groups will be compared to evaluate PCT levels and total period of antibiotic therapy, hospitalization and readmission in 30 days. This study will determine the sensibility/specificity of PCT in patients with DAHF.