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Contact Information:

Dr Emma Harper
emma.harper@phc.ox.ac.uk


More information about this study, what is involved and how to take part can be found on the study website.

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Be Part of Research - Trial Details - A study to evaluate diagnostic tests used at the point of care for improving antibiotic prescribing for patients with respiratory tract infections in primary care in Europe
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A study to evaluate diagnostic tests used at the point of care for improving antibiotic prescribing for patients with respiratory tract infections in primary care in Europe

Not Recruiting

Open to: All Genders

Age: Mixed

Cardiff Pontypridd Oxford

Medical Conditions

Community-acquired acute respiratory tract infection

This information is provided directly by researchers, and we recognise that it isn't always easy to understand. We are working with researchers to improve the accessibility of this information. In some summaries, you may come across links to external websites. These websites will have more information to help you better understand the study.


The development of antibiotics (such as penicillin) was a major breakthrough in medical science. Antibiotics are used to treat illness caused by bacteria. Development of these medicines meant that illnesses, like pneumonia, which were once often fatal, could now usually be successfully treated. However, the effectiveness of antibiotics is now decreasing because they are being overused. Bacteria that are being exposed to antibiotics can change genetically, making it harder for the antibiotics to work against them. As a result, “superbugs” are developing. There is no effective treatment for some of these “superbugs”. The development of resistance to antibiotics is a major public health concern worldwide. Using antibiotics too often and for the wrong illness increases antibiotic resistance.
Diagnostic tests used when a patient first visits their doctor (point of care diagnostic tests) could help identify patients that will and will not benefit from antibiotic treatment, and lead to better use of the precious medicines. This is especially true for community-acquired acute respiratory tract infections (CA-ARTI), such as sore throat or cough, the commonest acute reasons for antibiotics use in community care. This study will test whether having a diagnostic test result available when healthcare professions make a decision about antibiotic prescribing results in fewer antibiotics being prescribed without harming patients. The study will run in community care including doctor’s surgeries, paediatric centres or long-term care homes in several countries and will last for about 2 years. It is hoped that the results will improve care. The aim of the study is to determine if having a CA-ARTI diagnostic (CA-ARTI-Dx) test result available when a clinician is considering or intending to prescribe an antibiotic leads to more appropriate prescribing decisions without causing harm to patients.

Start dates may differ between countries and research sites. The research team are responsible for keeping the information up-to-date.  

The recruitment start and end dates are as follows:

01 Sep 2021 25 Jan 2024

Publications

2026 Results article in https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42699693/ patients' health-related quality of life secondary outcome results (added 09/09/2026)

The patients' eligibility for the study will be checked. If eligible, the patient will be told all the details of the study and given the opportunity to ask questions, and if they are happy to take part they will be asked to provide written informed consent. A member of the clinical team will complete a short questionnaire by asking the patient some questions about their illness and review their medical history. If the patient has had symptoms for 5 days or less they will have a test for the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. If positive for COVID-19 the patient will be managed according to the current NHS guidelines but will not be able to continue with the study. If they test negative or have had symptoms for more than 5 days they will continue to randomisation. The participant will be randomly allocated to usual care or a diagnostic test. If the participant is allocated to usual care the consulting clinician will complete the questionnaire and provide any treatment and advice for managing their illness following best practice and national guidelines. If the participant is allocated to a diagnostic test, a sample will be taken required for the diagnostic test and the test will be performed according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Once the test result is available the consulting clinician will complete the study questionnaire and provide any treatment and/or additional advice for managing the participant's illness. The participant will be provided with a paper or online 14-day diary and told how to complete it. At home the participant will complete the daily diary, this should take no more than 5 minutes each day. The study team will ring the participant on day 14 to 17 if they have not completed or returned the diary. The study team will ring the participant on or just after day 28 to ask them questions about their illness/recovery over the past two weeks. If the participant has consented to this they may be contacted to take part in an interview about their experience in this study and their thoughts on the use of diagnostics tests in the management of their symptoms.


Anyone over 1 year old presenting to sites participating in the study with either a cough which started less than 28 days ago, or a sore throat which started less than 14 days ago, whose GP is considering or planning to prescribe antibiotics for their symptoms.

You can take part if:



You may not be able to take part if:


1. Patients with only nasal, ear or rhinosinusitis symptoms2. Patients who have tested positive to SARS-CoV-2 within 28 days of onset of symptoms3. Patients with any serious condition associated with immunocompromised (long term oral steroids or immunosuppressants, terminal cancer)4. Patients for whom the clinician decides on immediate hospital admission5. Patients who will not be able to participate in the study because they do not understand the local language; are terminally ill; have a serious psychiatric disorder; or judgement of the recruiting clinician deems ineligible


Below are the locations for where you can take part in the trial. Please note that not all sites may be open.

  • Cardiff & Vale University Lhb
    Woodland House Maes-y-coed Road
    Cardiff
    CF14 4HH
  • Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Local Health Board
    Dewi Sant Hospital Albert Road
    Pontypridd
    CF37 1LB
  • NIHR CRN: Thames Valley and South Midlands
    John Radcliffe Hospital Headley Way Headington
    Oxford
    OX3 9DU

By participating in this study participants may not personally benefit but they will help doctors learn more about which diagnostic tests could help them make better decisions when treating people with cough or sore throat. Participants will be helping with research that may lead to a more personalised approach to antibiotic prescribing, one that better targets antibiotics to patients who are likely to benefit and directs alternative non-antibiotic treatments to patients who are unlikely to benefit. There are no foreseen risks but if participants are allocated to usual care plus a diagnostic test, a biological sample will be taken. Depending on what type of sample, some discomfort may be felt. The consultation may take longer than it would normally take without a diagnostic test.

Dr Emma Harper
emma.harper@phc.ox.ac.uk



More information about this study, what is involved and how to take part can be found on the study website.


The study is sponsored by University of Oxford and funded by European Commission; Wellcome Trust.



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Read full details for Trial ID: ISRCTN13336322

Or CPMS: 46894

Last updated 09 September 2026

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