Rapid bacterial infection test reduces antibiotic use
Wednesday, August 3, 2016 - 06:31
in Health & Medicine
A trial of a 5-minute test at ten primary care centres in Vietnam reduced antibiotic use for respiratory infections. The rapid test detects C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of infections caused by bacteria, in patients' blood: low CRP is suggestive of viral infection where antibiotic treatment is not required.