Private MD News
Home |
News |
General Health
Blood test may reduce the need for antibiotics
Updated: 2009-12-11 19:16:21 CST Category: General Health
A non-invasive blood test could help doctors more accurately determine which of their patients need antibiotics to treat a variety of conditions, new research indicates.
During the study, reported in the September issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, a team of Swiss researchers gave antibiotics to about 14,000 emergency room patients with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) based on either a blood test or standard guidelines, HealthDay News reports.
The patients who were prescribed antibiotic based on the blood test, which measured the abundance a chemical called procalcitonin, were on the medication for about three fewer days than the control group.
Researchers say the blood test could dramatically diminish the side effects associated with antibiotic use and slow the spread of bacteria which become resistant to the drugs.
"There has been a great deal of antibiotic overuse, with a great number of adverse effects both to patients individually and to the global flora becoming more resistant," said Dr Ann Falsey, a professor of medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center.
She added that the blood test could become a tool "that can help clinicians make better decisions."
According to Dr Allan Spreen of the Health Sciences Institute, grapefruit seed extract, olive leaf extract and colloidal silver are natural sources of antibiotics.

Related Articles from Private MD:
Share on Facebook
Subscribe to Private MD Health News RSS Feed: 
News Categories:
Advanced Lipid Treatment I
Allergy Testing
Anemia and RBC disorders
Autoimmune Diseases
Bariatric Lab Testing
Blood and Blood Diseases
Breast
Cancer Detection and Tumor Markers
Celiac Disease Testing
Chlamydia
Coagulation and blood clotting disorders
Colon
Diabetes
DNA, Paternity and Genetic testing
Drug Screening
Environmental Toxin Testing
Female Specific Tests
Gastrointestinal Diseases
General Health
General Wellness
Heart Health and Cholesterol
Herpes
HIV
HIV monitoring/Treatment/Testing/Post Diagnos
Hormones and Metabolism
Infectious Diseases
Infertility Testing-Male
Infertitlity Hormone Testing
Kidney Diseases
Leukemia and WBC disorders
Liver
Liver Diseases
Lyme Disease
Male Specific Tests
Menopause/Peri-Menopausal Diagnosis
Musculoskeletal Diseases
Organ Specific Testing
Ovarian
Prostate
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Thyroid Diseases
Vitamin D Deficiency-Diagnosis and Treatment
Visit the Health News Archive: Click Here
Questions about online blood testing or how to order a lab test? Click
here to get started or call us toll-free at
1.877.283.7882. Our professionals are ready to assist
you.