Point-of-care Testing of Respiratory Pathogens at Pediatric Emergency Room
Point-of-care Testing of Respiratory Pathogens at Pediatric Emergency Room
The main objective of the trial is to evaluate the effect of point-of-care testing of
 respiratory pathogens at a pediatric emergency room on the antibiotic consumption and
 hospital admissions in acutely ill children.
The study is a randomized controlled trial including children 0 up to 17 years of age with
 fever or acute respiratory infection at a pediatric emergency department in university
 hospital. In total 1668 subjects will be randomly allocated to undergo point-of-care
 multiplex respiratory pathogen testing with results ready within approximately one hour or to
 a control group with testing according to clinical judgement and results ready within next
 office day. Subjects will be randomized on admission and unequal allocation ratio of 2:1
 (1112 subjects to intervention and 556 subjects to control arm) will be used. Data on rate of
 hospitalization, antibiotic prescriptions, ancillary testing and length of visit will be
 collected using medical record system.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Any respiratory symptom defined as tachypnea, shortness of breath, apnea, wheezing,
 cough, rhinitis, croup, sneezing, ear ache, or sore throat AND/OR

 -  Fever > 38.0 C

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Need of resuscitation at emergency room

 -  Need of immediate transfer to pediatric intensive care unit