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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)

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

Antibiotic prescription

Rapid result (n= 202)

Delayed result (n= 204)

P

Initial antibiotic treatment, n (%)

9 (4.5)

25 (12.3)

0.005a

   At initial visit

7 (3.5)

21 (10.3)

 

   After 24 to 48 hours

2 (1.0)

4 (2.0)

 

   β-lactamb

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 (33.3c)

-

   CRP level ≥50 mg/L, n (%)

2 (8.3d)

10 (67.0e)

< 0.001a

   Duration of illness ≤5 days, n (%)

3 (3.3f)

12 (12.4f)

0.02a

   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 (3.3g)

11 (12.1g)

0.03a

Patients with Mycoplasma pneumoniae detected, n (%)

5 (2.5)

2 (1.0)

-

   Antibiotics prescribed, n

2h

2h

 

Patients with Chlamydophila pneumoniae detected, n (%)

1 (0.5)

-

 

   Antibiotics prescribed, n

1i

-

-

  1. 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.