OBJECTIVETo investigate the significance of monitoring procalcitonin (PCT) when applying antibiotics to trichlorethylene (TCE)-induced dermatitis.

METHODSOne hundred and two patients who were hospitalized and recovered from TCE-induced dermatitis in our hospital from 2006 to 2013 were enrolled as subjects. Based on whether the PCT level was monitored or not, we divided patients into regular group and PCT group. For the regular group, we applied antibiotic treatment and determined the course of treatment based on clinical symptoms, laboratory test results, medical imaging results, and bacterial culture. For the PCT group, in addition to the above treatments, antibiotic treatment was applied when the PCT level was not lower than 0.25 ng/ml and stopped when the PCT level was lower than 0.25 ng/ml. The distribution of bacterial infection sites, type of bacteria, type of antibiotics, average period of hospitalization, and course of antibiotic treatment were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in the distribution of bacterial infection sites, type of bacteria, type of antibiotics, and average period of hospitalization between the two groups (P > 0.05). The course of antibiotic treatment for the PCT group was significantly shorter than that for the regular group (25.37 ± 11.66 vs 20.58 ± 7.53 d, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONUnder similar conditions of bacterial infection, antibiotic treatment of TCE-induced dermatitis based on the serum PCT level can significantly shorten the course of treatment and avoid the abuse of antibiotics.