ArticleAcademic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine2026
Point-Of-Care Respiratory Diagnosis and Antibiotic Utilization in the Emergency Department: A Prospective Evaluation of Multiplex PCR.
Article in Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed.
- Real-world clinical evaluation of the Inflammatix TriVerity test for sepsis at the emergency department: an Acutelines study.Internal and emergency medicine · 2026Article
- Point-of-Care Multiplex NAAT for Acute Pharyngitis in the Urgent Care: Detection Patterns, Associated Antimicrobial Prescribing, and Stakeholder Perceptions.Open forum infectious diseases · 2026Article
- Article
- Point-Of-Care Respiratory Diagnosis and Antibiotic Utilization in the Emergency Department: A Prospective Evaluation of Multiplex PCR.Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine · 2026Article
- Quality Improvement Initiative to Reduce Inappropriate Viral Testing within the Pediatric Emergency Department.Pediatric quality & safetyArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
12 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesRapid multiplex point-of-care (POC) PCR tests may reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescribing by quickly identifying viral etiologies in patients with acute respiratory infections (ARI). We evaluated the impact of a rapid (~15 min) multiplex PCR test on antibiotic prescribing, provider confidence, patient satisfaction, and emergency department (ED) length of stay (LOS).
methodsWe conducted a prospective, single-center study (March 2024-January 2025) enrolling adults presenting to an urban academic ED with ARI symptoms. Participants underwent rapid multiplex PCR testing (BIOFIRE SPOTFIRE Respiratory Panel), with results provided to clinicians in real time. Antibiotic prescribing, provider and patient perceptions, and ED LOS were assessed through surveys and electronic health record review. A propensity-matched control cohort was used to compare antibiotic prescribing and LOS. The primary outcome was antibiotic prescribing among patients with a confirmed viral etiology; secondary outcomes included overall antibiotic prescribing, ED LOS, and provider-and patient-reported measures.
resultsA total of 200 patients were enrolled (mean age 43 years; 56.5% female). Common presenting symptoms included cough (80%), congestion (65%), and sore throat (55%). Patients with confirmed viral infections were significantly less likely to receive antibiotics than those with no detected pathogen (6.5% vs. 20.2%; OR 0.28; 95% CI 0.10-0.68; p = 0.009). Overall antibiotic prescribing rates were similar between experimental and control cohorts (14.9% vs. 12.0%; p = 0.392), but median ED LOS was significantly shorter in the experimental group (4.3 vs. 6.5 h; OR 0.66; 95% CI 0.59-0.74; p < 0.001). Provider diagnostic confidence was high (76%), and most patients reported high satisfaction with testing (92%).
conclusionsRapid multiplex PCR testing was associated with reduced antibiotic prescribing for viral infections, shorter ED LOS, high provider confidence, and high patient satisfaction. These findings support the value of ultra-rapid diagnostics for antimicrobial stewardship and patient-centered care in the ED.
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