CON: Procalcitonin does not have clinical utility in children with community-acquired pneumonia

Most clinical studies supporting procalcitonin (PCT)-guided management of lower respiratory tract infections have been performed in adults. There is a paucity of studies evaluating the clinical impact of PCT use in children and limited data informing age-appropriate PCT cut-offs; diagnostic accuracy in immunocompromised children; patient subgroups most likely to benefit from PCT testing; whether PCT adds value beyond available rapid molecular viral diagnostics; and optimal implementation strategies for PCT-guided treatment. At the present time there is little evidence to support routine use of PCT to aid management of paediatric pneumonia.