The number of antibiotics prescribed by GPs could be halved if doctors used a special test in their surgery, a new report says.
It was claimed today by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) that the test would find out whether patients have a bacterial or viral illness and eliminate unnecessary prescription of the drug.
The report stated that Ireland has a high rate of antibiotic prescribing in patients presenting to primary care with acute respiratory tract infections (RTIs).
They have published a health technology assessment recommending that a carefully managed and monitored pilot programme of C-reactive protein point-of-care testing (CRP POCT) be considered by the Minister for Health Simon Harris.
HIQA added that inappropriate antibiotic consumption is associated with increased antimicrobial resistance, causing increased illness and death from bacterial infections.
CRP POCT is used to measure the level of C-reactive protein in a person’s blood, which can be used as an indicator of bacterial infection.
Clinical trials have demonstrated that the use of CRP POCT in primary care settings to inform antibiotic prescribing for acute RTIs leads to a significant reduction in antibiotic prescribing without compromising patient safety.
An estimated 2.4 million prescriptions are issued for respiratory tract infections in Ireland every year.
It’s a number that HIQA believes could be halved if GPs used the test and were also trained to have conversations with their patients about appropriate antibiotic prescribing.
HIQA’s Chief Scientist, Dr Conor Teljeur, said: “The use of CRP POCT in primary care settings to inform antibiotic prescribing for acute respiratory tract infections may lead to a significant reduction in antibiotic prescribing without compromising patient safety.
“The adoption of CRP POCT would also have organisational implications for general practices in terms of impact on patient flow, the need for quality assurance, and potential displacement of activity through longer consultation times for patients who undergo the test.”
He continued: "We need to determine how best to maintain the positive effects of CRP POCT over the longer term.
"A carefully managed and monitored pilot programme or partial roll-out of CRP POCT offers the best prospect to evaluate a CRP POCT programme and establish whether a national roll-out is advisable.
"CRP POCT should be considered within the context of a suite of initiatives to improve antimicrobial stewardship – it is essential that a multifaceted approach continues to be taken in managing antimicrobial resistance."
