Rapid Molecular Tests for Detecting Respiratory Pathogens Reduced the Use of Antibiotics in Children

• Published in: Antibiotics (Basel) Vol. 10; no. 3; p. 283
• Main Authors: Kim, Yu Kyung, Lee, Jong Ho, Kim, Sae Yoon, Ahn, Ji Young, Choi, Kwang Hae, Lee, Young Hwan, Jang, Kyung Mi, Hau, Yong Sauk, Lee, Jae Min
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 10.03.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: acute respiratory infection; Antibiotic resistance; Antibiotics; antimicrobials; Assaying; Bacteria; Children; Drug resistance; FilmArray Respiratory Panel; Hospitalization; Infections; Intravenous administration; Laboratories; Lead time; Length of stay; multiplex polymerase chain reaction; Pathogens; Patients; Pediatrics; Polymerase chain reaction; Respiratory diseases; respiratory pathogen; Respiratory syncytial virus; Viruses; United States > US; antimicrobials; respiratory pathogen; acute respiratory infection; multiplex polymerase chain reaction; FilmArray Respiratory Panel
• DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10030283
• ISSN: 2079-6382

Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) is increasingly being used to diagnose infections caused by respiratory pathogens in pediatric inpatient facilities. mPCR assays detect a broader array of viruses, with higher specificity and sensitivity and faster turnaround than previous assays. We adapted the FilmArray Respiratory Panel (FA-RP) for diagnosing respiratory infections. FA-RP is an in vitro mPCR assay that simultaneously and rapidly (in about 1 h) detects 20 pathogens directly from respiratory specimens. Here, we studied the clinical efficacy of FA-RP in children who underwent testing for respiratory pathogens at Yeungnam University Hospital from November 2015 to August 2018. From November 2015 to June 2016, routine mPCR testing was performed on nasopharyngeal swabs using the routine mPCR kit. From November 2016 to July 2018, mPCR testing was performed using FA-RP. A total of 321 tests by routine mPCR and 594 tests by FA-RP were included. The positive detection rates for routine mPCR and FA-RP were 71.3% and 83.3%, respectively. FA-RP reduced the lead time, waiting time, turnaround time, intravenous (IV) antibiotic use, and length of hospital stay for pediatric patients. The decreased use of antibiotics is expected to reduce antibiotic resistance in children.