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Althaus T, Lubell Y, Maro VP, Mmbaga BT, Lwezaula B, Halleux C, Biggs HM, Galloway RL, Stoddard RA, Perniciaro JL, Nicholson WL, Doyle K, Olliaro P, Crump JA, Rubach MP. Sensitivity of C-reactive protein for the identification of patients with laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections in northern Tanzania. Tropical medicine & international health : TM & IH. 2020 Dec;25(25). 291-300. NIHMSID: NIHMS1590988.
Abstract
Identifying febrile patients requiring antibacterial treatment is challenging, particularly in low-resource settings. In South-East Asia, C-reactive protein (CRP) has been demonstrated to be highly sensitive and moderately specific in detecting bacterial infections and to safely reduce unnecessary antibacterial prescriptions in primary care. As evidence is scant in sub-Saharan Africa, we assessed the sensitivity of CRP in identifying serious bacterial infections in Tanzania.