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.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To evaluate whether C reactive protein point-of-care testing (CRP POCT) safely reduces antibiotic prescribing for lower respiratory tract infections in nursing home residents.

Design

Pragmatic, cluster randomised controlled trial.

Setting

The UPCARE study included 11 nursing home organisations in the Netherlands.

Participants

84 physicians from 11 nursing home organisations included 241 participants with suspected lower respiratory tract infections from September 2018 to the end of March 2020.

Interventions

Nursing homes allocated to the intervention group had access to CRP POCT. The control group provided usual care without CRP POCT for patients with suspected lower respiratory tract infections.

Main outcome measures

The primary outcome

SUBMITTER: Boere TM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8453309 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature