TY  - JOUR
T1  - PRocalcitonin-based guidelines and lower respiratory tract infections
AU  - Cals JL, Metlay JP
Y1  - 2010/02/03
N1  - 10.1001/jama.2010.52
JO  - JAMA
SP  - 418
EP  - 420
VL  - 303
IS  - 5
N2  - 
In their discussion, the authors called for more widespread introduction of PCT measurement for milder LRTIs in outpatient physician offices. We think this conclusion is not justified because their study patients were managed in tertiary care settings. By focusing on the sickest patients with LRTI, the PCT test may have had better sensitivity in the study patients than it would have in less ill patients observed in primary care, a form of spectrum bias.

SN  - 0098-7484
M3  - doi: 10.1001/jama.2010.52
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2010.52
ER  -