Antibiotics are a cornerstone of the management of bacterial infections. 80 - 90% of antibiotics are prescribed in primary care, and up to 80% of these are used to treat acute respiratory tract infections. It is estimated that 50% of all antibiotic prescriptions are unnecessary. Although most acute respiratory tract infections, both upper and lower, are caused by viruses and although antibiotics offer at best a modest benefit, they are frequently used to treat these conditions. Unnecessary and inappropriate use of antibiotics favours the emergence and spread of resistant bacteria. Antibiotic resistance is a major public health concern, which could cause harm to a large number of patients worldwide if infections are no longer susceptible to common medicines used to treat them. Therefore, antibiotics should be used with caution and only when absolutely necessary.
The use of antibiotics in primary care varies considerably between countries, which is unlikely to be caused by differences in the frequency of bacterial infections. A clear correlation between the use of antibiotics and the emergence of antibiotic resistance has been observed. Restricting inappropriate and excessive antibiotic use may contribute to slowing down or even reversing the development of antibiotic resistance.
The QuikRead go CRP test helps healthcare professionals to identify those patients who need - and particularly those who do not need - antibiotic therapy. It is also important to know whether the antibiotics will affect the course of the illness. QuikRead go CRP is useful for following up the effect of treatment. With accurate information, patients can be more easily reassured that symptomatic treatment will be sufficient. On the other hand, a high QuikRead go CRP reading would suggest a bacterial infection requiring antibiotic treatment.
References
Wise R et al. Antimicrobial resistance Is a major threat to public health. BMJ 1998; 317: 609 - 610.
Mölstad S. Reduction in antibiotic prescribing for respiratory tract infections is needed! Scand J Prim Health Care 2003; 21: 196 - 218.
Huovinen P, Cars O. Control of antimicrobial resistance: time for action. The essentials of control are already well known. BMJ 1998; 317: 613 - 614.
Kuyvenhoven MM et al. Outpatient antibiotic prescriptions from 1992 to 2001 in The Netherlands. JAC 2003; 52: 675 - 678.
Arroll B, Kenealy T. Antibiotics for the common cold and acute purulent rhinitis. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2005, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD000247.pub2.
Watson RL et al. Antimicrobial Use for Pediatric Upper Respiratory Infections: Reported Practice, Actual Practice, and Parent Beliefs. Pediatrics 1999; 104: 1251 - 1257.
Avorn MD, Solomon DG. Cultural and Economic Factors That (Mis)Shape Antibiotic Use: The Nonpharmacologic Basis of Therapeutics. Ann Intern Med 2000; 133: 128 - 135.
World Health Organization. WHO Global Strategy for Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance. Available at http://www.who.int/drugresistance/WHO_Global_Strategy_English.pdf.
Bronzwaer SLAM et al. A European Study on the Relationship between Antimicrobial Use and Antimicrobial Resistance. Emerg Inf Dis 2002;8(3): 278 - 282.
Seamark DA et al. Field-testing and validation in a primary care setting of a point-of-care test for C-reactive protein. Ann Clin Biochem 2003; 40: 178 - 180.
Goossens H et al. Outpatient antibiotic use in Europe and association with resistance: a cross-national database study. Lancet 2005; 365: 579 - 587.
Seppälä H et al. The effect of changes in the consumption of macrolide antibiotics on erythromycin resistance in group A streptococci in Finland. N Engl J Med 1997; 337: 441 - 446.
Stephenson J. Icelandic researchers are showing the way to bring down rates of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. JAMA 1996: 275: 175.
Pepys MB. The acute phase response and C-reactive protein. In: Warrell DA, Cox TM, Firth JD, Benz EJ, eds. Oxford Textbook of Medicine, 4th ed. Oxford University Press, 2003. Vol 2, p.150 - 156.
World Health Organization. The evolving threat of antimicrobial resistance. Options for action. 2012. Available at http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2012/9789241503181_eng.pdf.