Abstract
Background: Molecular point-of-care tests (POCT) allow rapid, reliable influenza diagnosis, which may in turn improve antimicrobial stewardship & reduce hospital pressures during the winter season.
Objectives: In this study we compared a range of tests and patient outcomes for 150 patients diagnosed with influenza A using either standard laboratory testing or POCT.
Methods: Data was collected retrospectively for patients testing influenza A positive over two influenza seasons, who were diagnosed either using the POCT (n=50) or standard laboratory testing (n=100). Bivariate analysis was performed to investigate a number of outcomes of interest. Generalised linear models were used to further investigate the role of POCT, whilst accounting for differences between individual patients.
Results: The time from initial suspicion of influenza until a test result was available was significantly lower for POCT patients versus laboratory tested patients (4 & 65 hours respectively, p< 1x10-10). Antiviral prescribing was also improved in POCT patients, with more patients receiving antivirals (p< 0.001), reduced time to prescription (p< 1x10-10) and fewer empirical prescriptions (p< 0.001). Simple bivariate analysis also suggested that length of stay and antibiotic prescribing were reduced following POCT, however these results were discounted when more sophisticated multivariate analysis was employed. This method accounts for confounding factors i.e. patient age.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the use of POCT was associated with a shorter time to result and improved antiviral prescription. However, our data did not suggest that POCT had any impact on patient outcome, length of hospital stay, admission rates, or antibiotic prescribing.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2020; 56: Suppl. 64, 2378.
This abstract was presented at the 2020 ERS International Congress, in session “Respiratory viruses in the "pre COVID-19" era”.
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 2020