Talk Evidence - testing for respiratory tract infections, cannabis for pain, & covid outcomes

This week our regular panelists, Helen Macdonald and Joe Ross, are joined by Juan Franco, editor in chief of BMJ Evidence Based Medicine - to take a primary care focussed look at what's been happening in the world of evidence.

On this week’s episode.

As kids go back to school, winter bugs surge and pressure mounts on health services we look at two trials which aimed to use reduce antibiotic prescribing for respiratory tract infections in nursing homes and primary care

Juan brings us an update on prescribing medicinal cannabis for pain, based on a recent BMJ rapid recommendation article and linked systematic review and meta-analysis

And finally, in covid news, how likely are you to be admitted or die from covid after one or two SARS-CoV 2 vaccinations?

Reading list

Effect of C reactive protein point-of-care testing on antibiotic prescribing for lower respiratory tract infections in nursing home residents - https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2198

Procalcitonin and lung ultrasonography point-of-care testing to determine antibiotic prescription in patients with lower respiratory tract infection in primary care - https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2132

Medical cannabis or cannabinoids for chronic pain - https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2040

Risk prediction of covid-19 related death and hospital admission in adults after covid-19 vaccination - https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2244