Did procalcitonin tests affect antibiotic prescribing for early COVID-19 patients?

In the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, antibiotics were used for suspected bacterial coinfections. However, bacterial infections were uncommon and antibiotics were overprescribed. Antibiotic overprescribing increases side effects and drives antibiotic resistance. The PEACH study assessed whether procalcitonin (PCT) blood testing safely reduced antibiotic use among hospitalised COVID-19 patients in the early pandemic. This video shows the positive effect of PCT testing on antibiotic prescribing during this period.