New point-of-care tests promise to pick the patients who actually need antibiotics
However, Professor Mark Morgan says larger trials are still needed.
Point-of-care diagnostic tests for respiratory tract infections could help GPs decide which patients need antibiotics, although an expert warns they will not replace clinical judgement.
One TGA-approved brand is FebriDx, with a cassette similar to a rapid antigen test that uses a fingerprick blood sample to detect elevated levels of CRP and myxovirus resistance protein A (MxA).
Elevated MxA indicates a viral infection regardless of elevated CRP, while elevated CRP alone suggests a bacterial infection, according to the test instructions.
Results take about 12 minutes to appear. Each test costs $25.
