Key points from article :
Antibiotics have no effect on respiratory infections caused by viruses – but doctors under pressure to prescribe.
Duke University has discovered that genes react differently when they are working to fight of viruses or bacterial infections.
Simple blood test can detect difference in an hour.
Coughs and colds are one of the most common reasons for a GP visit.
The study was published in the Science Translational Medicine journal.
COMMENT: of course you only get a 10 minute appointment with your GP so will need some mechanism to create the prescription if blood test is positive.
