Key result
Adding sputum testing to nose and throat swabs significantly increased the diagnostic yield for respiratory viruses from 20% to 31% (P = 0.0001) in hospitalized adults.
Why the study?
Does the 'dunk and swirl' method for processing sputum samples improve the diagnostic yield of respiratory viruses compared to nose and throat swabs alone in hospitalized adults with RTI?
Observational (n=965)
Does the 'dunk and swirl' method for processing sputum samples improve the diagnostic yield of respiratory viruses compared to nose and throat swabs alone in hospitalized adults with RTI?
Absolute Event Rate: 31% vs 20%
p-value: p=0.0001
The 'dunk and swirl' method is a practical way to process viscous sputum samples for automated PCR, significantly increasing the diagnostic yield of respiratory viruses compared to nose and throat swabs alone.
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Sputum addition may boost viral detection in hospitalized adults with RTI; leaves open effects on management and outcomes.
Branche et al. (2014) conducted an observational in Respiratory tract infections (n=965). Sputum testing in addition to nose and throat swabs vs. Nose and throat swabs alone was evaluated on Diagnostic yield of respiratory viruses (p=0.0001). Adding sputum testing to nose and throat swabs significantly increased the diagnostic yield for respiratory viruses from 20% to 31% (P = 0.0001) in hospitalized adults.
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