Access to a polymerase chain reaction assay method targeting 13 respiratory viruses can reduce antibiotics: a randomised, controlled trial

Table 2 Antibiotic prescription at initial visit (and within 48 hours of initial visit) for adult patients with acute respiratory tract infection, according to randomisation group (rapid result vs. delayed result)

Antibiotic prescription	Rapid result (n= 202)	Delayed result (n= 204)	P
Initial antibiotic treatment, n (%)	9 (4.5)	25 (12.3)	0.005^a
At initial visit	7 (3.5)	21 (10.3)
After 24 to 48 hours	2 (1.0)	4 (2.0)
β-lactam^b	4 (2.0)	13 (6.4)	-
Tetracycline	4 (2.0)	8 (3.9)	-
Macrolide	1 (0.5)	3 (1.5)	-
Quinolone	-	1 (0.5)	-
Patient demographics at initial antibiotic treatment, n (%)
Body temperature ≥38.5°C, n (%)	-	4 (33.3^c)	-
CRP level ≥50 mg/L, n (%)	2 (8.3^d)	10 (67.0^e)	< 0.001^a
Duration of illness ≤5 days, n (%)	3 (3.3^f)	12 (12.4^f)	0.02^a
Duration of illness > 5 days, n (%)	6 (5.4)	13 (12.1)	-
Patients with virus detected, n (%)	91 (45.0)	91 (44.6)	-
Antibiotics prescribed	3 (3.3^g)	11 (12.1^g)	0.03^a
Patients with Mycoplasma pneumoniae detected, n (%)	5 (2.5)	2 (1.0)	-
Antibiotics prescribed, n	2^h	2^h
Patients with Chlamydophila pneumoniae detected, n (%)	1 (0.5)	-
Antibiotics prescribed, n	1ⁱ	-	-

^aχ² test; ^bphenoxymethylpenicillin or amoxicillin with or without clavulanic acid or loracarbef; ^cfour (33.3%) of twelve patients; ^dtwo (8.3%) of twenty-four patients; ^e10 (67.0%) of 15 patients; ^fthree (3.3%) of ninety-one patients and 12 (12.4%) of 97 patients, respectively; ^gthree (3.3%) of ninety-one patients and 11 (12.1%) of 91 patients, respectively; ^hone patient received antibiotics within 24 hours and the other within 48 hours in each group, for a total of two patients in each group as indicated in table; ⁱpatient received antibiotics within 48 hours.

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