Impact of a multiplex PCR point-of-care test for influenza A/B and respiratory syncytial virus on an acute pediatric hospital ward

Patients with respiratory infections are often managed presumptively until confirmation of infection status. We assessed the impact of introducing the Enigma ® MiniLab™ FluAB-RSV point-of-care test (POCT) on patients admitted with a suspected respiratory virus driven illness in an acute pediatric ward. This utilized a before and after design (respiratory viral seasons 2013/14 versus 2014/15). Following POCT implementation, oseltamivir prescribing incr eased in patients with influenza (OR = 12.7, P = 0.05, 95% CI [1.0, 153.8]).

Source: Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease - April 4, 2018 Category: Microbiology Authors: Andres I. Vecino-Ortiz, Simon D. Goldenberg, Sam T. Douthwaite, Chih-Yuan Cheng, Rebecca E. Glover, Catherine Mak, Elisabeth J. Adams Source Type: research