C Reactive Protein (CRP) Intervention to Reduce Inappropriate Antibiotic Prescriptions in the Primary Healthcare Setting

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients, aged 6 to 65 years, that visit one of the 10 selected primary healthcare centers * Suspected to have acute respiratory tract infection (ARI) by treating physician * Informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Severe respiratory disease as determined by treating doctor * Any disease or symptom requiring hospital referral as determined by treating doctor * Immunosuppressed patients (e.g. HIV, long term steroid use) * Suspicion of tuberculosis * Evidence of acute or chronic liver disease (e.g. hepatitis or cirrhosis due to any cause) * Past medical history of: neoplastic disease, congestive cardiac failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, insulin-dependent diabetes or renal disease * Pregnancy * No access to telephone * Not able to come for follow up visit on day 3 or 4. * Already taking antibiotics at the time of presentation * Symptoms present for more than 2 weeks * Presence of any sign of severe diseases as defined by the British Thoracic Society modified CRP-65 system for severity scoring of pneumonia in primary care. For children (Age ≥ 6 years and \< 16 years) additional exclusion criteria include: Tachypnea, signs of chest wall in drawing, reduced consciousness, confusion, dehydration, hypothermia, severe malnutrition, unable to feed or drink, vomiting, and convulsions.