The Aspire 2 Study

Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are a major concern in primary care settings due to their high prevalence and significant impact on public health. ARIs encompass a wide range of illnesses, from common colds and influenza to more serious conditions like pneumonia and bronchitis. These infections can affect the upper respiratory tract (sinuses, nose, and throat) or lower respiratory tract (trachea, bronchi, and lungs).

FebriDx is a point-of-care testing device that helps differentiate between viral and bacterial ARIs. It works by detecting two biomarkers: Myxovirus resistance protein A (MxA) and C-reactive protein (CRP). MxA is an intracellular protein that becomes elevated in the presence of acute viral infections, while CRP is an acute-phase protein that increases with inflammation, often seen in bacterial infections. By simultaneously assessing these two biomarkers, FebriDx can help clinicians determine the likelihood of a bacterial vs. a viral infection.

The use of FebriDx in primary care settings is particularly valuable for antibiotic stewardship. Antibiotic resistance is a growing global health concern, largely driven by the overuse and misuse of antibiotics. Viral infections do not respond to antibiotics, yet they are often inappropriately prescribed for these conditions, partly due to difficulties in distinguishing viral from bacterial infections based on clinical assessment alone.
Rapid and efficient diagnosis and management of ARI’s at the primary care level can decrease hospital admissions and the associated healthcare costs, with positive implications for antibiotic stewardship.