Axis-Shield NycoCard CRP test selected for major study into overuse of antibiotics

Axis-Shield plc, the international in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) company, today announces that its NycoCard™ CRP (C-Reactive Protein) test is to be used in a major study to identify patients suitable for treatment with antibiotics.

The overall aim of the intervention programme is to lower the occurrence of bacterial resistance by reducing the prescription of unnecessary antibiotics for respiratory tract infections, many of which are of viral origin not treatable with conventional antibiotics. The use of CRP testing in Northern Europe to differentiate between bacterial and viral infections in primary care has been widespread and this has contributed to a traditionally low rate of antibiotic resistance. In Southern Europe, where CRP usage is minimal, the prevalence of pneumococci resistant to penicillin is much higher and in Spain, rates of resistance in the region of 40-65% have been reported.

The project is an EC Priority Sixth Framework Programme which will involve 400 General Practitioners in Denmark, Lithuania, France, Sweden, Argentina, Russia and finally Spain, with the largest GP participation (180). The study objective will be to strengthen the surveillance of respiratory tract infections in primary health care through development of intervention programmes targeting GPs, parents of young children and healthy adults. The team will study the incidence of respiratory tract infections among patients in general practice and carry out research based on audit registration to explore the existing use of diagnostic tools in patients with respiratory tract infections.

The results of the study will be released and discussed at a Conference of the World Association of Family Doctors at the end of the project period and media campaigns to increase awareness of the risk of bacterial resistance will be developed as the results are published.

Ian Gilham, Axis-Shield CEO, commented: “Studies like this will increase awareness of the critical issue of antibiotic resistance and how testing for CRP elevation in the blood can be used to reduce this problem throughout Europe. In many countries, including the UK, France, Greece and Spain, the use of CRP testing is still very low and this is reflected in the high rates of antibiotic resistance in these populations. The introduction of CRP testing in these countries will help to reduce the unnecessary use of antibiotics in primary care and decelerate the development of antibiotic resistance."