Abstract
Introduction: This winter has seen the worst flu epidemic in 7 years and exacerbated pressure on hospitals. Early diagnosis in the emergency department (ED) should prevent transmission to other patients in hospitals, help avoid bed closures for infection control (IC) purposes, and allow rapid treatment to be delivered.
Aims & Objectives: To determine whether POCT alters the following, in patients with possible influenza:
1. Time to diagnosis (rule in/out of influenza)
2. Proportion of patients admitted from outset to a bed with appropriate level of isolation (by rapid POCT confirmation) thereby avoiding subsequent bed moves.
Methods: All patients presenting with possible influenza underwent POCT (Filmarray Biofire) as part of their initial assessment. We present findings from the first 2 weeks after implementation of this novel service.
Results: Of 130 patients tested, 57 cases of influenza were identified, of the following strains: 41 B, 14 A H3 and 2 A H1 2009.
The average time from receipt of sample to test result was 12 hours for n = 25 samples sent to the microbiology lab via the traditional method. In contrast, POCT results were available in 43 minutes.
29 of 57 influenza patients underwent POCT whilst in ED prior to admission, of whom 22 could be appropriately admitted as per infection control (IC) measures and 7 safely discharged.
Of the 50 admitted, 32 were discharged home without any bed/ward moves as they had been correctly placed in the appropriate IC cohort bay from the outset. None required ITU.
Discussion: We have demonstrated that POCT leads to rapid confirmation of influenza and allows informed early decision making, reducing flu contacts and bed closures.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2018 52: Suppl. 62, PA4692.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2018