Blood test can identify infection and reduce use of antibiotics

A simple blood test could soon tell doctors within two hours whether a patient has a viral or bacterial infection, thereby cutting the need for antibiotics in many cases.

The World Health Organisation has said the overuse of antibiotics is leading to increased drugs resistance — they simply will not work — meaning simple infections could once again become killer diseases.

It emerged here in recent months that doctors, pharmacists, vets, and government departments were having to join forces in an effort to combat the overuse of antibiotics, with the growing danger of simple surgery becoming a deadly event because of increasing drug resistance.