C-reactive protein point-of-care testing and antibiotic prescribing for acute respiratory tract infections in rural primary health centres of North Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

NPJ Primary Care Respiratory Medicine
Henock YebyoR M Hopstaken

Abstract

Unjustified antibiotic prescribing for acute upper respiratory infections (URTIs) is probably more common in poor-resource settings where physicians are scarce. Introducing C-reactive protein (CRP) point-of-care testing in such settings could reduce the misuse of antibiotics, which could avert antibiotic resistance. However, information useful for the applicability of CRP test in resource-limited settings is lacking. This study aimed to elicit the frequency of antibiotic prescribing and distribution of CRP levels in remote, rural settings in Ethiopia. We included 414 patients with acute URTIs from four health centres. Health professionals recorded the clinical features of the patients, but the laboratory professionals measured the CRP levels of all patients at the point of care. The most prominent respiratory causes for consultation were acute URTIs combined (44.4%), and lower respiratory tract infections-pneumonia (29.71%) and acute bronchitis (25.84%). The CRP distribution was <20 mg/l, 20-99 mg/l and 100 mg/l or more in 66.6%, 27.9% and 5.5% of the patients, respectively. The CRP levels were significantly different among these clinical diagnoses (X(2)=114.3, P<0.001, d.f.=4). A wide range of antibiotics was administered for ...Continue Reading

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Citations

Apr 23, 2013·Journal of Dentistry·Mei SongTitus L Schleyer
Feb 1, 2017·Annals of Clinical Biochemistry·Valentina PecoraroTommaso Trenti
Jan 20, 2018·Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses·Armel M SanouChantal J Snoeck
May 28, 2019·Global Health Action·Abraham Sahilemichael KebedeAyodele O Arowojolu
May 25, 2016·Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy·Carl Llor, Lars Bjerrum

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