Quick Test for Viral Infections Reduces Antibiotic Use

The whole process from obtaining a sample from the patient’s nose to getting a result should take under 50 minutes, which has a potentially enormous impact on quality of care, improving the patient journey by allowing earlier, informed decision-making about patient management,” said Dr Roy. “This is the same test and technology as used in our microbiology laboratory, but we have brought the equipment to the patient’s bedside. Results from samples sent to the microbiology lab can take more than two days.” Dr Roy presented data from the first 1075 patients between 15 January and 1 May 2018 to the congress. Of these, 61% showed the patients had one or more viruses, of which 56% were influenza and 54% were other viruses, such as rhinovirus, coronavirus, metapneumovirus and adenovirus, which can cause just as many respiratory and other problems as ‘flu or a bacterial infection, particularly in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). https://www.technologynetworks.com/tn/news/quick-test-for-viral-infections-reduces-antibiotic-use-309580?utm_campaign=Newsletter_TN_BreakingScienceNews&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=65965268&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_1TpNt2yD7pQ8DE-t7v7bVQBDulWISLitqzP0hZBgFABgTiq0pOEj4yDzSRCFoBbepaRHJAU-LmiyoUKFG9nUiSZSi3w&_hsmi=65965268