The ASPIRE Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Supporting Antibiotic Stewardship in Primary Care via Point-of-care testing (POCT) for acute respiratory tract infections.
IRAS ID
306081
Contact name
Leon Hill
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of South Wales
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 30 days
Research summary
Acute respiratory tract infections account for a large number of visits to Primary Care practices in the NHS. Clinicians regularly struggle to distinguish between viral and bacterial infections as the symptoms are non specific. A result of this is that GP's routinely prescribe antibiotics based off a subjective clinical decision, thus many patients are wrongly prescribed antibiotics as a measure of precaution.
The FebriDx assay (POC test assay)is a POC immunoassay that can be used as a clinicians decision tool, providing a readable result within 10 minutes. The POC test assay can distinguish between viral and bacterial infections with MXA and CRP biomarkers.
The purpose of this observational study is to determine whether the POC testing at a Primary Care level can guide clinicians decision making and help improve antibiotic stewardship.
GP's will be blinded to the result of the test and a retrospective review of the clinical decision will be made to determine the effectiveness of the POC test assay. The clinical pathway will remain the same. The result of the POC test will not influence the clinical decision but provide evidence to suggest that using the POCtest assay would be effective in a clinical setting.
REC name
London - Hampstead Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/PR/0278
Date of REC Opinion
6 May 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion