The decision to start antibiotics was determined by the presence of increased classical inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.91–2.41; p < 0.05), procalcitonin (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.28–2.35; p < 0.05), or leukocytosis (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.01–1.38; p < 0.05). Here, CRP is linked to Increased total leukocyte count.