A retrospective study of influenza rapid antigen test positivity with drug prescribing and clinical symptoms

Öz

Aim:Influenza like illnesses (ILI) are the most prevalent reason for unnecessary antibiotic prescribing. Our aim was to evaluate the rapid antigen test(RAT)positivity with drug prescribing and clinical symptoms for ILI which is also a first report for Turkey.

Material and Methods:From September 2015 to June 2017, 1200 patients with ILI were included in this study. Nasopharyngeal swabs were taken from all enrolled patients. Antigen test was used for rapid detection of Influenza A/B virus, and the results were compared with clinical manifestations and drug prescriptions.  

Results:RAT results were positive in 414 (34.5%) of 1200 patients. Fever (984 patients/82%), cough (727 patients/60.6%) and weakness (270 patients/22.5%) were common complaints. 371 (89.6%) out of 414 RAT positive patients had fever (p<0.01). 174 (42%) out of 414 RAT positive patients were medicated with antivirals (p<0.01). In addition, 516 (65.6%) out of 786 RAT negative patients were medicated with only antibacterial (p<0.01). 

Conclusion:Our results supported a positive RAT test has an improving effect on the unnecessary antibiotic prescribing. However, in Turkey the prevalence of antibiotic prescription rates are still very high. Therefore we suggest that, RAT can be used effectively to reduce antibiotic usage when a quick decision is necessary.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Influenza like illness,drug prescribing,RAT,clinical symptoms

Influenza hızlı antijen test pozitifliğinin ilaç reçetelendirilmesi ve klinik belirtiler açısından değerlendirilmesi üzerine retrospektif çalışma

Öz

Amaç:Influenza benzeri hastalıklar (ILI) akılcı olmayan antibiyotik kullanımının en sık sebeplerindendir. Bu çalışmadaki amacımız, Türkiye’den ilk bildirim olarak hızlı antijen testi (RAT) pozitifliğinin ilaç reçetelendirilmesi ve klinik belirtiler ile ilişkisini incelemektir.

Gereç ve Yöntemler:Eylül 2015-Haziran 2017 tarihleri arasında ILI tanısı almış 1200 hasta bu araştırma kapsamında değerlendirilmiştir. Tüm hastalardan nazofarenkssürüntüleri alınmış veInfluenza A/B tanısı amacıyla RAT ile incelenmiştir. Elde edilen sonuçlar, hastaların klinik durumları ve reçetelendirilmiş ilaçlar ile karşılaştırılarak değerlendirilmiştir.

Bulgular:RAT sonuçlarına göre 1200 ILI hastasının 414’ü (%34,5) Influenza A/B pozitif bulunmuştur. ILI tanısı alan hastalarda en sık görülen belirtiler ateş (984 hasta-%82), öksürük (727 hasta-%60,6) ve halsizlik (270 hasta-%22,5) olarak saptanmıştır. 414 RAT pozitif saptanan hastanın 371’inde (%89,6) ateş en sık saptanan belirti olmuştur (p<0,01). Bunun yanısıra 786 RAT negatif hastanın 516’sına (%65,6) sadece antibakteriyel ilaç reçeteverilmiştir (p<0,01).

Sonuç:Sonuçlarımız RAT pozitifliğinin gereksiz antibiyotik reçetelendirilmesi üzerine olumlu bir etkiye sahip olduğunu göstermiştir. Buna rağmen Türkiye’de klinisyenlerin antibiyotik reçetelendirme oranları yüksektir. Sonuç olarak çalışmamızinfluenza tanısınahızla karar verilmesi gereken durumlarda RAT kullanımının gereksiz antibiyotik reçetelendirilme oranlarını düşüreceğini göstermiştir. 

Anahtar Kelimeler

• RAT,influenza benzeri hastalık,ilaç reçetelendirilmesi,RAT,klinik belirtiler

Kaynakça

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