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

Yu Kyung Kim; Jong Ho Lee; Sae Yoon Kim; Ji Young Ahn; Kwang Hae Choi; Young Hwan Lee; Kyung Mi Jang; Yong Sauk Hau; Jae Min Lee

doi:10.3390/antibiotics10030283

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

Antibiotics (Basel). 2021 Mar 10;10(3):283. doi: 10.3390/antibiotics10030283.

Authors

Yu Kyung Kim¹, Jong Ho Lee², Sae Yoon Kim³, Ji Young Ahn³, Kwang Hae Choi³, Young Hwan Lee³, Kyung Mi Jang³, Yong Sauk Hau⁴, Jae Min Lee³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Pathology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41944, Korea.
² Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu 42415, Korea.
³ Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu 42415, Korea.
⁴ Department of Business Administration, School of Business, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Korea.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: FilmArray Respiratory Panel; acute respiratory infection; antimicrobials; multiplex polymerase chain reaction; respiratory pathogen.