CRP Testing to Guide Antibiotic Therapy for COPD Exacerbations

Clinicians often prescribe antibiotics to patients with exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) — especially those with increased sputum volume and discoloration. However, the evidence supporting antibiotic therapy is mixed. In this U.K. study, researchers sought to determine whether testing for C-reactive protein (CRP) could lower antibiotic prescribing without compromising clinical outcomes. More than 600 patients with COPD exacerbations who presented to primary care practices were randomized to receive point-of-care CRP testing or no CRP testing (i.e., usual care). Based on previously published data, clinicians of patients in the CRP group were urged to prescribe antibiotics when CRP levels were >40 mg/L and not to …