Rapid influenza diagnostic tests improve suitability of antiviral treatment in hospitalized children

Abstract

Influenza may have a complicated course in young children. The aim of the study was to analyze the suitability of influenza treatment among children younger than 5 years hospitalized due to an influenza-like illness. We conducted a comparison of the treatment among children hospitalized in two consecutive years: 2015, when no rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDT) were in use, and 2016, when RIDT were implemented into a routine practice in the pediatric ward. In both seasons, nasopharyngeal swabs were collected and examined with real time qRT-PCR. In the 2015 season, influenza was diagnosed in 15/52 (28 %) children and none of them received oseltamivir, while 14/15 (93 %) patients received antibiotics. In the 2016 season, influenza was diagnosed in 11/63 (17 %) children, 7/11 (64 %) of them received oseltamivir and another 7/11 (64 %) received antibiotics. In four cases antibiotics overlapped oseltamivir. These differences in the use of oseltamivir and antibiotics were statistically significant (p < 0.05). We conclude that the implementation of RIDT improves the suitability of influenza treatment and decreases the frequency of antibiotic therapy. RIDT should be available in pediatric departments to optimize influenza treatment.