Impact of a PCR point of care test for influenza A/B on an acute medical unit in a large UK teaching hospital: results of an observational, pre and post intervention study.
Antimicrob Resist Infect Control
; 8: 120, 2019.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-31346461
ABSTRACT
Background:
Influenza viruses is a leading cause of acute respiratory infection, placing a significant burden on healthcare. To reduce hospital transmission, patients clinically suspected of having influenza are isolated and offered empirical antiviral treatment. Here we report the use of a point of care test (POCT) for influenza viruses in an acute medical unit (AMU) at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham for patients presenting with influenza-like illness.Methods:
A PCR POCT was installed on AMU in Dec 17 - Mar 18 (period 2) and used to test any patient with influenza-like illness. We conducted an evaluation against influenza virus's data collected between Dec 16-Mar 17 (period 1) where no POCT was used. Four outcomes were measured length of stay, oseltamivir utilisation, time to isolation and in-hospital cases of influenza viruses.Results:
There were 51 confirmed influenza virus cases in period 1 vs 666 in period 2. During period 2, the length of stay of patients presenting with influenza-like illness (2.4 vs 7.9 days) and time to isolation from receipt of a positive result (0.09 vs 1.26 days) was significantly shorter. The time to initial receipt of antivirals for patients with influenza virus was significantly quicker in period 2 (0.59 vs 1.1 days) and the total number of influenza virus cases identified after 72 h of admission was significantly lower (9% vs 51%).Discussion:
Following introduction of the POCT, there was an increase in appropriately targeted oseltamivir prescribing, shorter time to isolation, proportionally less post-72-h influenza virus cases and a reduction in length of stay of patients presenting with influenza-like illness.Conclusions:
Routine use of POCTs for viruses should be introduced into diagnostic pathways for acute respiratory illness, especially at the front door of hospitals.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Vírus da Influenza A
/
Vírus da Influenza B
/
Infecções Respiratórias
/
Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase
/
Influenza Humana
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Humans
País/Região como assunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2019
Tipo de documento:
Article