Some differences in workup strategies and meds used in Chinese vs US hospitals

---

Diagnostics

As a marker of bacterial infection, PCT (procalcitonin) is used as a marker of infectious disease

Treatments

As an antibiotic:


• Meropenem and Levofloxacin is the most commonly used to pneumonia
• Many bacteria here are Vancomycin-resistant
• Penicillins like Zosyn and Augmentin are available but not covered for patients with insurance from rural areas.
• Cephalosporins are not often available at this hospital
• Clindamycin, Doxycycline, Linezolid, and Vancomycin used more rarely, but mostly reserved for patients allergic to penicillins and cephalosporins or severe infections such as PCP
• Metronidazole used for GI infections



As an antiviral: Foscarnet is used when viral infection such as viral pneumonia is suspected

To stimulate WBC growth when WBC low (lymphopenia):


• Ribonucleotides(building blocks of DNA)
• Traditional Chinese medicine, Sanguisorba

---