ArticleBMC primary care2022
Factors associated with C-reactive protein testing when prescribing antibiotics in general practice: a register-based study.
Article in BMC primary care, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 5 citations in OpenAlex.
- Diagnostic accuracy of point-of-care tests for acute respiratory infection: a systematic review of reviews.Health technology assessment (Winchester, England) · 2026Pooled it
- Role of diagnostic testing in reducing unnecessary antibiotic use for upper respiratory tract infections in Chinese primary healthcare: a mixed-methods study.BMC primary care · 2026Article
- Feasibility of C-reactive protein point-of-care testing for antibiotic stewardship in rural GP-pharmacy settings.Antimicrobial stewardship & healthcare epidemiology : ASHE · 2026Article
- C-reactive protein point-of-care testing in primary care-broader implementation needed to combat antimicrobial resistance.Frontiers in public health · 2024Review
- Positive Point-of-Care Influenza Test Significantly Decreases the Probability of Antibiotic Treatment during Respiratory Tract Infections in Primary Care.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Development over time in point-of-care test use in Danish daytime and out-of-hours general practice: a register-based study.Scandinavian journal of primary health care · 2023Article
- Diagnoses Based on C-Reactive Protein Point-of-Care Tests.Biosensors · 2022Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe use of C-reactive protein (CRP) tests has been shown to safely reduce antibiotic prescribing for acute respiratory tract infections (RTIs). The aim of this study was to explore patient and clinical factors associated with the use of CRP testing when prescribing antibiotics recommended for RTIs.
methodsA nation-wide retrospective cross-sectional register-based study based on first redeemed antibiotic prescriptions issued to adults in Danish general practice between July 2015 and June 2017. Only antibiotics recommended for treatment of RTIs were included in the analysis (penicillin-V, amoxicillin, co-amoxicillin or roxithromycin/clarithromycin). Logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios for patient-related and clinical factors on performing a CRP test in relation to antibiotic prescribing.
resultsA total of 984,149 patients redeemed at least one antibiotic prescription during the two-year period. About half of these prescriptions (49.6%) had an RTI stated as the indication, and a CRP test was performed in relation to 45.2% of these scripts. Lower odds of having a CRP test performed in relation to an antibiotic prescription was found for patients aged 75 years and above (OR 0.82, 95CI 0.79-0.86), with a Charlson Comorbidity Index of more than one (OR 0.93, 95CI 0.91-0.95), unemployed or on disability pension (OR 0.84, 95CI 0.83-0.85) and immigrants (OR 0.91, 95CI 0.88-0.95) or descendants of immigrants (OR 0.90, 95CI 0.84-0.96). Living with a partner (OR 1.08, 95CI 1.07-1.10), being followed in practice for a chronic condition (OR 1.22, 95CI 1.18-1.26) and having CRP tests performed in the previous year (OR 1.78, 95CI 1.73-1.84) were associated with higher odds of CRP testing in relation to antibiotic prescribing.
conclusionsDifferences were observed in the use of CRP tests among subgroups of patients indicating that both sociodemographic factors and comorbidity influence the decision to use a CRP test in relation to antibiotic prescriptions in general practice. Potentially, this means that the use of CRP tests could be optimised to increase diagnostic certainty and further promote rational prescribing of antibiotics. The rationale behind the observed differences could be further explored in future qualitative studies.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.