CONTACT
DIAGNOSTICS
ABOUT ABBOTT
i-STAT Registration
i-STAT Login
CUSTOMER HOME
PARTNERS HOME
DISTRIBUTION HOME
EMPLOYEES HOME
REPAIR MANUAL
COMPLETE PROFILE
DASHBOARD
My Account
United States

Global Point of Care

 

Viewpoints

Viewpoints Interior Header
Viewpoints Interior Header
Viewpoints Interior Header

Viewpoints

Viewpoints Interior Header
Viewpoints Interior Header
Viewpoints Interior Header

Waging the war on antimicrobial resistance

anti-microbial resistance anti-microbial resistance anti-microbial resistance
Dr Susanne Emmerich
Published November 01, 2022

The impact of antimicrobial resistance can be slowed

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the greatest threats to global health, yet it is accelerated mainly by the misuse and unnecessary prescription of antibiotics.1,2  Most antibiotics are prescribed for respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in the primary care setting.3 Implementing C-reactive protein (CRP) point-of-care testing (POCT) has been shown to safely reduce antibiotic prescribing in RTIs4-8 without impacting clinical measures such as rate of recovery or mortality.5-7

Adopting diagnostic systems that markedly reduce antibiotic consumption has been described as a “no-brainer” for governments that are struggling to address the rise in AMR.8

Dr. Margaret Chan, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) further emphasizes the importance of incorporating diagnostics into strategies for slowing the spread of AMR. 

“Today, antibiotics are rarely prescribed based on a definitive diagnosis. Having rapid, low-cost, and readily available diagnostics is an essential part of the solution to this urgent problem.”  

Dr. Margaret Chan, Director General of the World Health Organization9

How CRP POCT can help combat AMR

CRP testing has been shown to achieve a reduction in antibiotic prescribing, especially in subgroups with acutely exacerbated COPD10-12 and in the elderly, with lower RTIs in nursing homes.7  Dr. Carl Llor, PhD, MD (Via Roma Health Centre, Barcelona, and the University of Odense, Denmark) highlights that CRP POCT could also have slowed the spread of AMR during the COVID-19 pandemic.13  

Education on POCT is crucial

A recent educational webcast on myPOCacademy.com looked at how the consumption of antibiotics can be reduced in the primary care setting, and the advantages of adopting CRP POCT to assist in this goal.

myPOC-on-screen myPOC-on-screen myPOC-on-screen

The webcast includes presentations from an international expert faculty, plus a patient advocate, Vanessa, who speaks about her personal experiences in dealing with AMR. It also features country-specific perspectives and clinical case studies from across multiple disease areas.

Introducing the myPOCacademy platform

MyPOC-logo MyPOC-logo MyPOC-logo

The educational platform myPOCacademy is an expert resource for healthcare professionals, providing a range of professionally accredited learning on POCT. Working with an expert faculty, content covers multiple clinical disciplines, including respiratory health, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. You can hear more about the platform by watching the short introductory video at www.myPOCacademy.com and you can access all the content by registering (for free). 

References

  1. Prestinaci, et al. Antimicrobial resistance: a global multifaceted phenomenon. Pathog Glob Health 2015;109(7):309-18.
  2. Llor, et al. Antimicrobial resistance: risk associated with antibiotic overuse and initiatives to reduce the problem. Ther Adv Drug Saf 2014;5(6):229-41. 
  3. Aabenhus, et al. Biomarkers as point-of-care tests to guide prescription of antibiotics in patients with acute respiratory infections in primary care (Review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2014;11:1-70.
  4. Martínez-González, et al. Point-of-care C-reactive protein testing to reduce antibiotic prescribing for respiratory tract infections in primary care: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Antibiotics (Basel) 2020;9(9):610.
  5. Verbakel, et al. Impact of point-of-care C reactive protein in ambulatory care: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open 2019;9(1):e025036.
  6. Andreeva, et al. Usefulness of C-reactive protein testing in acute cough/respiratory tract infection: an open cluster-randomized clinical trial with C-reactive protein testing in the intervention group. BMC Fam Pract 2014;15:80.
  7. Boere, et al. Effect of C reactive protein point-of-care testing on antibiotic prescribing for lower respiratory tract infections in nursing home residents: cluster randomised controlled trial. BMJ 2021;374:n2198.
  8. Cooke, et al. Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in primary care: narrative review of C reactive protein (CRP) point-of-care testing (POCT) and antibacterial use in patients who present with symptoms of RTI. BMJ Open Respir Res 2020;7(1):e000624.
  9. O´Neill. The review on antimicrobial resistance. Tackling drug-resistant infections globally: final report and recommendations. 2016. Available at: https://amr-review.org/sites/default/files/160518_Final%20paper_ with%20cover.pdf 
  10. Butler, et al. C-reactive protein testing to guide antibiotic prescribing for COPD exacerbations. NEJM 2019;381(2):111-20.
  11. Llor, et al. Predictors for antibiotic prescribing in patients with exacerbations of COPD in general practice. Ther Adv Respir Dis 2013; (3):131-137.
  12. Strykowski, et al. An intervention with access to C-reactive protein rapid test reduces antibiotic overprescribing in acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis and COPD. Family Practice 2015;32(4);395-400.
  13. Llor. CRP rapid testing for suspected COVID-19 could slow the spread of antimicrobial resistance. Health Europa 2021;19:20-21. 

© 2022 Abbott. All rights reserved. All trademarks referenced are trademarks of either the Abbott group of companies or their respective owners. Any photos displayed are for illustrative purposes only. 

Antimicrobial resistance, Primary care, Fingerstick

Select a topic

Related Articles

A Leader In Rapid Point-of-care Diagnostics.

PRODUCT CATALOG
SOLUTIONS
CUSTOMER STORIES
VIEWPOINTS
TOXICOLOGY
CONTACT US
PRODUCT DOCUMENT SEARCH
PRODUCT DEMOS
INTEREST-BASED ADS
CONSUMER HEALTH DATA PRIVACY POLICY

©2024 Abbott. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, all product and service names appearing in this Internet site are trademarks owned by or licensed to Abbott, its subsidiaries or affiliates. No use of any Abbott trademark, trade name, or trade dress in this site may be made without the prior written authorization of Abbott, except to identify the product or services of the company.

This website is governed by applicable U.S. laws and governmental regulations. The products and information contained herewith may not be accessible in all countries, and Abbott takes no responsibility for such information which may not comply with local country legal process, regulation, registration and usage.

Your use of this website and the information contained herein is subject to our Website Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. Photos displayed are for illustrative purposes only. Any person depicted in such photographs is a model. GDPR Statement

Not all products are available in all regions. Check with your local representative for availability in specific markets. For in vitro diagnostic use only. For i-STAT test cartridge information and intended use, refer to individual product pages or the cartridge information (CTI/IFU) in the i-STAT Support area.

Abbott - A Leader in Rapid Point-of-Care Diagnostics.