The problem, the consequences, and rapid testing solutions
Lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) is one of the most common acute reasons for patients to seek urgent medical assessment, accounting for 17 million consultations in the European Union and 11 million in the U.S. each year.1
Despite robust evidence highlighting little or no benefit from antibiotic treatment for most people presenting with respiratory tract infection (RTI) symptoms, these illnesses are still the commonest reason for antibiotic prescribing in primary care.2
The Problem
Statistics indicate that 90% of RTIs are caused by viruses and, in these cases, antibiotics are unlikely to have any clinical benefit for the patient.3 In fact, 80% of LRTIs presenting in primary care are acute bronchitis. Despite evidence of little or no benefit from antibiotics, up to 80% of patients consulting for this condition are prescribed them.1

The Consequences
There is an obvious over-prescription of antibiotics for RTI in primary care. Antibiotic prescribing puts individuals at risk from side effects, encourages help-seeking behavior for mainly self-limiting illnesses, and puts both individuals and society at risk from increasing antibiotic resistance.2 Most RTIs are harmless, self-limiting and nearly all patients recover without any pharmaceutical intervention. Antibiotic treatment, in some cases, may be directly harmful due to adverse effects.3