Relationship between microbiology of throat swab and clinical course among primary care patients with acute cough: a prospective cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRTIs) account for most antibiotics prescribed in primary care despite lack of efficacy, partly due to clinician uncertainty about aetiology and patient concerns about illness course. Nucleic acid amplification tests could assist antibiotic targeting.

Methods

In this prospective cohort study, 645 patients presenting to primary care with acute cough and suspected ALRTI, provided throat swabs at baseline. These were tested for respiratory pathogens by real-time polymerase chain reaction and classified as having a respiratory virus, bacteria, both or neither. Three hundred fifty-four participants scored the symptoms severity daily for 1 week in a diary (0 = absent to 4 = severe problem).

Results

Organisms were identif

SUBMITTER: Ordonez-Mena JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7108489 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature