{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,17]],"date-time":"2026-09-17T22:06:43Z","timestamp":1789682803694,"version":"4.0.1"},"reference-count":32,"publisher":"Royal College of General Practitioners","issue":"1","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["BJGP Open"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2021,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Background<\/jats:title><jats:p>GPs can use the C-reactive protein (CRP) point-of-care test (POCT) to assist when deciding whether to prescribe antibiotics for patients with acute respiratory tract infections (RTIs).<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Aim<\/jats:title><jats:p>To estimate the CRP cut-off levels that Danish GPs use to guide antibiotic prescribing for patients presenting with different signs and symptoms of RTIs.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Design &amp; setting<\/jats:title><jats:p>A cross-sectional study conducted in general practice in Denmark.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Method<\/jats:title><jats:p>During the winters of 2017 and 2018, 143 GPs and their staff registered consecutive patients with symptoms of an RTI according to the Audit Project Odense (APO) method. CRP cut-offs were estimated as the lowest level at which half of the patients were prescribed an antibiotic.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>In total, 7813 patients were diagnosed with an RTI, of whom 4617 (59%) had a CRP test performed. At least 25% of the patients were prescribed an antibiotic when the CRP level was &gt;20 mg\/L, at least 50% when CRP was &gt;40 mg\/L, and at least 75% when CRP was &gt;50 mg\/L. Lower thresholds were identified for patients aged \u226565 years and those presenting with a fever, poor general appearance, dyspnoea, abnormal lung auscultation, or ear\/facial pain, and if the duration of symptoms was either short (\u22641 day) or long (&gt;14 days).<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title><jats:p>More than half of patients presenting to Danish general practice with symptoms of an RTI have a CRP test performed. 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