Respiratory virus infections commonly lead to hospital admissions, costing health systems time and resources. A recent study, published in Lancet Respiratory Medicine, examined how point-of-care testing (POCT) for respiratory infections can reduce unnecessary antibiotic usage and shorten lengths of stay while improving detection.

POCT shows promise in treating patients effectively and quickly, but research into its usefulness in clinical care is scarce. This recent study included 720 patients with acute respiratory diseases to test POTC on length of stay and appropriate treatment.

The study, conducted from Jan. 15, 2015, to April 30, 2015, and from Oct. 1, 2015, to April 30, 2016, enrolled patients within the first 24 hours of being admitted to the University of Southampton hospital with acute respiratory illnesses. Some 362 patients were randomly assigned to the POCT group and 358 in the control group.

Results showed the POTC patients receiving antibiotics had an average length of stay in the hospital at five to seven days while the control group had an average length of stay at six to eight days. Additionally, patients in the POTC group received the appropriate antiviral treatment more often, at 91 percent, when compared to 65 percent of control patients receiving appropriate amounts of treatment.

“Although POCT was not associated with a reduction in the duration of antibiotics overall, more patients in the POCT group received single doses or brief courses of antibiotics than did patients in the control group,” concluded Nathan J. Brendish, MRCP, of the University of Southampton, and colleagues. “POCT was also associated with a reduced length of stay and improved influenza detection and antiviral use, and appeared to be safe.”