Prognostic value of upper respiratory tract microbes in children presenting to primary care with respiratory infections: A prospective cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The association between upper respiratory tract microbial positivity and illness prognosis in children is unclear. This impedes clinical decision-making and means the utility of upper respiratory tract microbial point-of-care tests remains unknown. We investigated for relationships between pharyngeal microbes and symptom severity in children with suspected respiratory tract infection (RTI).

Methods

Baseline characteristics and pharyngeal swabs were collected from 2,296 children presenting to 58 general practices in Bristol, UK with acute cough and suspected RTI between 2011-2013. Post-consultation, parents recorded the severity of six RTI symptoms on a 0-6 scale daily for ≤28 days. We used multivariable hurdle regression, adjusting for clinical characteristics, an

SUBMITTER: McGeoch LJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9098075 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature