Key result
Rapid PCR-based influenza testing decreased overall time to result from 25.2 to 1.7 hours (P<0.001) and reduced median duration of oseltamivir from 1.1 to 0.0 days in influenza-negative patients.
Why the study?
Does rapid PCR-based influenza testing reduce laboratory testing time and antiviral use in hospitalized adult inpatients?
Cohort (n=350)
No
Does rapid PCR-based influenza testing reduce laboratory testing time and antiviral use in hospitalized adult inpatients?
Absolute Event Rate: 1.7% vs 25.2%
p-value: p=<0.001
Implementation of rapid PCR-based influenza testing significantly reduces time to result and decreases unnecessary antiviral duration in hospitalized adults.
May reduce unnecessary antivirals in inpatients; leaves open randomized confirmation before practice change.
Rapid PCR-based influenza tests are increasingly used as point-of-care diagnostics in hospitals and clinics. To our knowledge, no prior studies have described clinical outcomes with implementation of rapid PCR-based influenza tests in hospitalized adult inpatients. Electronic medical records were used to assess differences in laboratory testing time and antiviral use among a subset of 175 consecutive adult inpatients tested for influenza in two respiratory seasons before and after implementation of rapid PCR-based influenza testing at an academic medical center. Of the 350 hospitalized inpatients included in this analysis, 96 (27%) were over 65 years of age and 308 (88%) had a comorbid condition. The overall time to result decreased significantly from 25.2 to 1.7 hr (P < 0.001) after implementation of rapid PCR-based influenza testing. Among influenza-negative patients, the frequency of oseltamivir initiation remained unchanged (before: 43% vs. after: 45%; P = 0.60), though the median duration of oseltamivir was significantly decreased from 1.1 to 0.0 days (P < 0.001). By providing an earlier result to clinicians, rapid PCR-based influenza tests may decrease unnecessary antiviral use among adult inpatients who test negative for influenza.
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Chu et al. (2015) conducted a cohort in Suspected influenza (n=350). Rapid PCR-based influenza testing vs. Standard testing (before implementation) was evaluated on Overall time to result (hours) (p=<0.001). Rapid PCR-based influenza testing decreased overall time to result from 25.2 to 1.7 hours (P<0.001) and reduced median duration of oseltamivir from 1.1 to 0.0 days in influenza-negative patients.
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