Blood test could cut unnecessary antibiotics for sick newborns

This study tested whether using a blood marker called procalcitonin (PCT) could help doctors decide when to safely stop antibiotics for newborns with a serious infection called late-onset sepsis. Over 500 newborns were randomly assigned to have their antibiotic duration guided by the PCT test or by standard doctor practice. The goal was to see if the PCT-guided approach could shorten antibiotic treatment by 30% without increasing the risk of the infection coming back or causing harm.