Excessive use of antibiotics is a significant public health concern with several severe implications for the development of Antibiotic Resistance and its impact on Gut Microbiota. C-reactive Protein (CRP) is non-specific, acute-phase reactant whose levels increase in response to infection or inflammation due bacterial and viral etiologies. Many studies have explored the role of CRP as a point-of-care tool to assist in decision-making and improve the efficiency of antibiotic prescribing practices among healthcare professionals in primary care settings. The main benefit of POC CRP testing is its ease of use, providing results within 2 to 3 minutes from a simple finger prick, which is optimal for an outpatient clinic. While several studies demonstrate reductions in antibiotic use with POC CRP testing, there are many controversies around those need to be resolved, including the cutoff values of CRP for antibiotic prescription, whether CRP can differentiate bacterial and viral etiologies, and whether a single CRP level can reflect the disease state. Future research needs to focus on developing uniform guidelines for interpreting CRP levels and evaluating whether serial CRP measurements, physician training, especially in primary care and rural settings, to reduce overprescribing. Ultimately, while POC CRP testing can support antibiotic stewardship, its utility must be carefully balanced with sound clinical judgment.

Studies have suggested that patients with severe head injury, in addition to Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), reveal high D-dimer levels which are independently associated with increased mortality. In the present review, we analyzed the literature where studies have reported the role of D-dimers as a potential biomarker in stratification and early identification of patients with TBI who are at risk of clinical deterioration, where early intervention can improve overall outcomes. After scrutinizing 246 articles, which were narrowed down to 38 (16 prospective, 9 retrospective, 2 RCTs, 2 case-control, 1 cross-sectional study). All these studies included 7,589 patients, in whom D-dimer was measured at different timings and in different ways. Most studies demonstrated significant changes that could be utilized for prognostication. However, we also observed instances where no significant changes were found. Unfortunately, direct comparisons were hindered by variations in the methods used to measure D-dimer across different outcomes. Limitations included the lack of a substantial number of RCTs, heterogeneity of available data, and the difficulty in summarization of specific cutoff points for D-dimer. Future studies, especially RCTs, should measure D-dimer levels at different times from injury for an accurate assessment of its correlation with outcomes.