Randomised controlled trial of CRP rapid test as a guide to treatment of respiratory infections in general practice
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review
OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the frequency of antibiotic prescriptions to patients with respiratory infections is reduced when general practitioners (GPs) use a C-reactive protein (CRP) rapid test in support of their clinical assessment, and to study whether using the test will have any effect on the course of disease
DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial.
SETTING: 35 general practices, County of Funen, Denmark.
PATIENTS: 812 patients with respiratory infection.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Frequency of antibiotic prescriptions and morbidity 1 week after the consultation, as stated by the patients.
RESULTS: In the CRP group the frequency of antibiotic prescriptions was 43% (179/414) compared with 46% (184/398) in the control group (odds ratio (OR) = 0.9, NS). After 1 week, increased or unchanged morbidity was stated more frequently in the CRP group (12%) than in the control group (8%) (OR = 1.6, p = 0.05). In the control group, the variable having the greatest influence on whether the GP prescribed antibiotics was the patients' general well-being (OR = 2.9, p < 0.0001), whereas in the CRP group the CRP value had the greatest influence (OR = 1.1 per unit increase (mg/l), p < 0.0001).
CONCLUSION: Based on the present study, the use of the CRP rapid test in support of a possible antibiotic treatment for respiratory infections in general practice cannot be recommended.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care |
Volume | 18 |
Issue number | 1 |
Pages (from-to) | 39-43 |
Number of pages | 5 |
ISSN | 0281-3432 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Mar 2000 |
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use, C-Reactive Protein/analysis, Child, Child, Preschool, Denmark, Drug Utilization Review, Family Practice/methods, Female, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Male, Middle Aged, Practice Guidelines as Topic, Practice Patterns, Physicians', Reagent Kits, Diagnostic, Respiratory Tract Infections/blood, Treatment Outcome
Research areas
ID: 324187851