New blood test could help prevent antibiotic misuse

Conclusion This new test shows promising results in distinguishing between viral and bacterial infections. This is important because of increasing antibacterial resistance and could help doctors to tailor treatment quicker when someone is admitted with a suspected infection. At present, distinguishing between different types of infections is complex and relies on symptoms, signs, a variety of clinical tests and clinical judgement. One of these tests is the CRP, which is used as an indicator of the severity of infection or inflammation, and is often used to monitor this over time. It is surprising that it has been used as one of the determinants in this new test, as it is considered to be a non-specific marker of inflammation or infection and increases in both viral and bacterial infections. While the results of the study are positive, it’s important to realise that the test is not ready to be used on the general population. It will need to be tested on larger groups of people to confirm its accuracy. In addition, studies will need to show that it delivers benefits to patients in the way it is hoped – for example, finding out whether using this test leads to more accurate prescribing of antibiotics, less antibiotics being prescribed, or speeds up the process of diagnosing infection. Further research along these lines, including randomised controlled trials, will be required before it could be used in the clinical setting. Although the test appeared to be good at disting...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Medical practice Medication Source Type: news