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Finger-prick blood test at GP surgery could safely reduce antibiotic use in patients with COPD

A simple finger-prick blood test could help prevent unnecessary prescribing of antibiotics for people with the lung condition chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to NIHR-funded research.

Researchers from Cardiff University, University of Oxford and King’s College London demonstrated that using a CRP finger-prick blood test resulted in 20% fewer people using antibiotics for COPD flare-ups. Importantly, this reduction in antibiotic use did not have a negative effect on patients’ recovery over the first two weeks after their consultation at their GP surgery, or on their well-being or use of health care services over the following six months.

The PACE study involved 653 participants in England and Wales, including 56 from GP practices in Oxfordshire, Reading and Slough. 

Read more on the University of Oxford website.