C-reactive Protein (CRP)-Guided Management Algorithm for Adults With Acute Cough

We aim to evaluate the impact of a CRP-guided management algorithm for adults with acute cough illness. More specifically, we will examine both process of care and clinical outcomes: 1. Processes of care (i.e., chest x-rays ordered, antibiotic treatment, length-of-time in the ED). We hypothesize that CRP-guided management will be associated with a decrease in the antibiotic prescription for acute cough illness from 50 percent to 30 percent. 2. Clinical outcomes (i.e., duration of illness, any return visit, return visit with a diagnosis of pneumonia, hospitalization, subsequent antibiotic use, satisfaction with care). We hypothesize that there will be no difference in the proportion of patients feeling back to normal within 2 weeks of their ED visit for acute cough illness (about 60 percent, 95% confidence interval=50 to 70 percent).