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
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
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.
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.
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).
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