May 7, 2026 · The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · DOI: 10.3399/BJGP.2025.0593

Point-of-care biomarkers or laboratory-based tests to reduce antibiotic prescribing for COPD exacerbations in primary care: a literature review and meta-analysis

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The authors aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of point-of-care biomarkers and laboratory-based tests in reducing unnecessary antibiotic prescribing for acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) in primary care settings. Their systematic review and meta-analysis revealed that C-reactive protein (CRP) point-of-care testing significantly decreased antibiotic prescriptions, while data on procalcitonin (PCT) was insufficient for conclusive results. Overall, the study suggests that CRP POCT can aid in antibiotic stewardship for AECOPD when used alongside clinical assessments.

Mathieu Frénois, Roxane Fovet, David Wyts, Claire Collins, Matthieu Calafiore, Christophe Berkhout

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