Rapid PCR-based diagnostic test when placed at the point of care Infections and Infestations
Conditions
Interventions
1. Control: combined nose and throat swabs for respiratory virus testing with the laboratory -based PCR testing +/- atypical investigations e.g. serology
2. Intervention: combined nose and throat swab
Sponsors
King's College Hospital
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. = 16 years of age 2. Have mental capacity to give written informed consent to participate in the study 3. Have acute upper respiratory tract infection or influenza-like illness +/- lower respiratory tract infection. Symptoms include fever or feeling feverish (chills), cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle-aches or body-aches, headaches, fatigue (tiredness), some people may have vomiting or diarrhoea (though this is more common in children than adults). Please note that not all patients with influenza have fever. Please note that patients with a clinical or radiological diagnosis of community-acquired lower respiratory tract infection, evidence/suspicion of bacterial infection with common, ‘typical’ respiratory tract pathogens, patients with known or suspected immune suppression, and those with sepsis or severe sepsis are also eligible for inclusion.
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. Those who do NOT meet the inclusion criteria 2. Evidence/suspicion of bacterial infection affecting sites other than the respiratory tract
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Antibiotic use and length of hospital stay | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. Turnaround time of tests 2. Readmission rate 3. Mortality 4. Ease of use of Point of Care Test 5. Cost benefit | — |
Countries
United Kingdom
Outcome results
None listed