The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

OTU-033 Impact of point-of-care testing for pathogens in patients with suspected gastroenteritis: a randomised controlled trial

OTU-033 Impact of point-of-care testing for pathogens in patients with suspected gastroenteritis: a randomised controlled trial
OTU-033 Impact of point-of-care testing for pathogens in patients with suspected gastroenteritis: a randomised controlled trial
Introduction Patients presenting to hospital with diarrhoea are routinely isolated as an infection control measure whilst awaiting results of laboratory stool tests which typically take several days. Novel rapid molecular testing platforms, which test comprehensively for gastrointestinal (GI) pathogens, generate a result in 1 hour, making them potentially deployable as point-of-care tests (POCT). Their use may therefore rationalise the use of isolation facilities. Methods In this ongoing pragmatic, parallel group, open label, randomised controlled trial, adult patients presenting to hospital with acute diarrhoea (<14 days) were recruited and randomised 1:1 to receive either POCT with the FilmArray GI panel or to routine clinical care. Results of POCT were communicated to clinical and infection control teams. The primary outcome measure was duration of time in a side room and secondary outcome measures included turnaround time, proportion of patients with a pathogen detected, and proportion of patients correctly de-isolated. Statistical analysis was done using GraphPad Prism Version 7. Result We performed an interim analysis using data collected from the first 100 patients. The groups (n=50) were well matched in terms of baseline characteristics. 34% of patients had inflammatory bowel disease. The median [IQR] turnaround time for results was 1.7 [1.6–2.3] hours in the POCT group and 61 [49–84] hours in the control group, p<0.0001. Pathogens were detected in 48% of patients in the POCT group and 20% in the control group, p=0.0057.The median duration of side room isolation was 2.1 [1.0–4.3] days in the POCT group (for those testing positive) compared to 2.7 [1.8–5.0] days in the control group, p=0.037. For those testing negative for pathogens, this was 1.4 [0.6–3.8] days in the POCT group versus 2.7 [1.8–4.9] days in the control group, p=0.0066. 62% of pathogen-negative patients were correctly de-isolated in the POCT group versus 20% in the control group, p=0.0012. Conclusion POCT using the FilmArray GI panel resulted in a rapid turnaround time for results and an increase in the proportion of patients with pathogens detected. POCT was associated with a reduction in the duration of side room use. If these benefits are maintained in the full study and supported by health economic analysis, molecular POCT for GI pathogens should become standard of care.
1468-3288
Clark, Tristan
712ec18e-613c-45df-a013-c8a22834e14f
Clark, Tristan
712ec18e-613c-45df-a013-c8a22834e14f

Clark, Tristan (2018) OTU-033 Impact of point-of-care testing for pathogens in patients with suspected gastroenteritis: a randomised controlled trial. Gut, 67 (S1), [A224]. (doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2018-BSGAbstracts.447).

Record type: Meeting abstract

Abstract

Introduction Patients presenting to hospital with diarrhoea are routinely isolated as an infection control measure whilst awaiting results of laboratory stool tests which typically take several days. Novel rapid molecular testing platforms, which test comprehensively for gastrointestinal (GI) pathogens, generate a result in 1 hour, making them potentially deployable as point-of-care tests (POCT). Their use may therefore rationalise the use of isolation facilities. Methods In this ongoing pragmatic, parallel group, open label, randomised controlled trial, adult patients presenting to hospital with acute diarrhoea (<14 days) were recruited and randomised 1:1 to receive either POCT with the FilmArray GI panel or to routine clinical care. Results of POCT were communicated to clinical and infection control teams. The primary outcome measure was duration of time in a side room and secondary outcome measures included turnaround time, proportion of patients with a pathogen detected, and proportion of patients correctly de-isolated. Statistical analysis was done using GraphPad Prism Version 7. Result We performed an interim analysis using data collected from the first 100 patients. The groups (n=50) were well matched in terms of baseline characteristics. 34% of patients had inflammatory bowel disease. The median [IQR] turnaround time for results was 1.7 [1.6–2.3] hours in the POCT group and 61 [49–84] hours in the control group, p<0.0001. Pathogens were detected in 48% of patients in the POCT group and 20% in the control group, p=0.0057.The median duration of side room isolation was 2.1 [1.0–4.3] days in the POCT group (for those testing positive) compared to 2.7 [1.8–5.0] days in the control group, p=0.037. For those testing negative for pathogens, this was 1.4 [0.6–3.8] days in the POCT group versus 2.7 [1.8–4.9] days in the control group, p=0.0066. 62% of pathogen-negative patients were correctly de-isolated in the POCT group versus 20% in the control group, p=0.0012. Conclusion POCT using the FilmArray GI panel resulted in a rapid turnaround time for results and an increase in the proportion of patients with pathogens detected. POCT was associated with a reduction in the duration of side room use. If these benefits are maintained in the full study and supported by health economic analysis, molecular POCT for GI pathogens should become standard of care.

This record has no associated files available for download.

More information

Published date: 1 June 2018

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 448787
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/448787
ISSN: 1468-3288
PURE UUID: c9811cfe-182a-455f-9e6c-c92f4550544d
ORCID for Tristan Clark: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-6026-5295

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 05 May 2021 16:55
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 03:34

Export record

Altmetrics

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×