Single centre experience: Managing seasonal influenza without a point-of-care test

Abstract

Background The use of point-of-care testing (POCT) for influenza is not routine in many hospitals in the United Kngdom and testing is currently by laboratory-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. This review aims to evaluate patients who were tested positive for influenza in the last winter season and project if future POCT usage at initial point of patient assessment could assist in better utilisation of healthcare resources. Methods Retrospective review in a district general hospital without POCT facility for influenza. Medical records of patients who tested positive for influenza during a 4-month period from 1 October 2019 to 31 January 2020 in the paediatric department were reviewed and analysed. Results Thirty patients had laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza of which 63% ( n = 19) were admitted to the ward. 56% of patients were not isolated at first instance on admission and 50% ( n = 9) of admitted patients did not require inpatient management which totalled up to 224 h length of stay in ward. Conclusions Routine POCT for influenza can potentially improve management of patients presenting with respiratory symptoms and allocation of healthcare resources. We recommend its use to be introduced in diagnostic pathways for acute respiratory illness in the paediatric population in the next winter season in all hospitals.