The use and usefulness of point-of-care tests in patients with pharyngotonsillitis – an observational study in primary health care
(2024) In BMC Primary Care 25(1).- Abstract
Background: Rapid antigen detection tests (RADT) for Group A streptococci (GAS) and point-of-care tests for C-reactive protein (CRP) are commonly used in patients with pharyngotonsillitis in Sweden and Denmark although CRP testing is not supported by guidelines. We aimed to describe (1) the proportion of patients tested with RADT and/or CRP, (2) the relation between test results and antibiotic prescribing, and (3) the association between CRP level and microbial aetiology. Methods: We used a post-hoc-analysis of data collected in primary health care in a prospective aetiological study of 220 patients 15–45 years old diagnosed with pharyngotonsillitis. The outcomes of RADTs and CRP tests were related to antibiotic prescribing and... (More)
Background: Rapid antigen detection tests (RADT) for Group A streptococci (GAS) and point-of-care tests for C-reactive protein (CRP) are commonly used in patients with pharyngotonsillitis in Sweden and Denmark although CRP testing is not supported by guidelines. We aimed to describe (1) the proportion of patients tested with RADT and/or CRP, (2) the relation between test results and antibiotic prescribing, and (3) the association between CRP level and microbial aetiology. Methods: We used a post-hoc-analysis of data collected in primary health care in a prospective aetiological study of 220 patients 15–45 years old diagnosed with pharyngotonsillitis. The outcomes of RADTs and CRP tests were related to antibiotic prescribing and microbial aetiology. Results: A RADT was used in 94% of the patients. A CRP test was used in 50% of the patients but more commonly in those with a negative RADT (59%) than in those with a positive RADT (38%) (p = 0.005). Most (74%) CRP tests were used in patients with a negative RADT. Antibiotic prescribing differed greatly between patients with a positive RADT (96%) and patients with a negative RADT (17%) (p < 0.001). In patients with a negative RADT, there was a positive association between CRP value and antibiotic prescribing (OR 1.05; 95% CI 1.02–1.07; p < 0.001). Patients with CRP values ≤ 30 mg/l were seldomly prescribed antibiotics. Patients with GAS in culture had the highest median CRP (46 mg/l), which was higher than in patients without GAS (8 mg/l; p < 0.001). However, the positive predictive value for GAS never exceeded 0.60 (95% CI 0.31–0.83) at the investigated CRP levels. Conclusions: The widespread use of tests is a major deviation from national guidelines. Most CRP tests were used in patients with a negative RADT, suggesting a belief in the added value of a CRP test, and the CRP result seemed to influence antibiotic prescribing. However, as an aetiological test, CRP is not useful for predicting GAS.
(Less)
- author
- Pallon, Jon LU ; Sundqvist, Martin LU and Hedin, Katarina LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2024
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Aetiology, Antibiotic prescribing, C-reactive protein, Pharyngotonsillitis, Primary health care, Rapid antigen detection test
- in
- BMC Primary Care
- volume
- 25
- issue
- 1
- article number
- 15
- publisher
- BioMed Central (BMC)
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:38184547
- scopus:85181452078
- ISSN
- 2731-4553
- DOI
- 10.1186/s12875-023-02245-9
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 6ede1b90-aab2-493e-881a-0b04f4c2a20a
- date added to LUP
- 2024-02-07 13:12:29
- date last changed
- 2024-04-23 16:05:55
@article{6ede1b90-aab2-493e-881a-0b04f4c2a20a,
abstract = {{<p>Background: Rapid antigen detection tests (RADT) for Group A streptococci (GAS) and point-of-care tests for C-reactive protein (CRP) are commonly used in patients with pharyngotonsillitis in Sweden and Denmark although CRP testing is not supported by guidelines. We aimed to describe (1) the proportion of patients tested with RADT and/or CRP, (2) the relation between test results and antibiotic prescribing, and (3) the association between CRP level and microbial aetiology. Methods: We used a post-hoc-analysis of data collected in primary health care in a prospective aetiological study of 220 patients 15–45 years old diagnosed with pharyngotonsillitis. The outcomes of RADTs and CRP tests were related to antibiotic prescribing and microbial aetiology. Results: A RADT was used in 94% of the patients. A CRP test was used in 50% of the patients but more commonly in those with a negative RADT (59%) than in those with a positive RADT (38%) (p = 0.005). Most (74%) CRP tests were used in patients with a negative RADT. Antibiotic prescribing differed greatly between patients with a positive RADT (96%) and patients with a negative RADT (17%) (p < 0.001). In patients with a negative RADT, there was a positive association between CRP value and antibiotic prescribing (OR 1.05; 95% CI 1.02–1.07; p < 0.001). Patients with CRP values ≤ 30 mg/l were seldomly prescribed antibiotics. Patients with GAS in culture had the highest median CRP (46 mg/l), which was higher than in patients without GAS (8 mg/l; p < 0.001). However, the positive predictive value for GAS never exceeded 0.60 (95% CI 0.31–0.83) at the investigated CRP levels. Conclusions: The widespread use of tests is a major deviation from national guidelines. Most CRP tests were used in patients with a negative RADT, suggesting a belief in the added value of a CRP test, and the CRP result seemed to influence antibiotic prescribing. However, as an aetiological test, CRP is not useful for predicting GAS.</p>}},
author = {{Pallon, Jon and Sundqvist, Martin and Hedin, Katarina}},
issn = {{2731-4553}},
keywords = {{Aetiology; Antibiotic prescribing; C-reactive protein; Pharyngotonsillitis; Primary health care; Rapid antigen detection test}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
publisher = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
series = {{BMC Primary Care}},
title = {{The use and usefulness of point-of-care tests in patients with pharyngotonsillitis – an observational study in primary health care}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12875-023-02245-9}},
doi = {{10.1186/s12875-023-02245-9}},
volume = {{25}},
year = {{2024}},
}