The Clinical Impact of the Film Array (Biofire) Respiratory Panel Utilization on the Outcomes of Pediatric Patients with Acute Viral Respiratory Infections in Two Private Tertiary Hospitals in Cebu

Abstract

Abstract BACKGROUND: Acute respiratory tract infections (ARI) are the most prevalent illness in people of all ages, and they are a leading cause of hospitalization and death. Molecular testing methods have significantly expanded the ability to diagnose respiratory infections. Rapid viral testing aims to prompt the diagnosis of viral infections that could lead to faster hospital discharge, lower healthcare resource use and clinicians are guided on the judicious use of antibiotics, as well as greater isolation precautions. The objective of this study was to determine the clinical impact of the Film Array (Biofire) Respiratory Panel utilization on the outcomes of pediatric patients with acute viral respiratory infection METHODOLOGY: This is a cross-sectional analytic study, conducted in two private tertiary hospitals. Study population includes admitted patients aged 1-18 years old with acute respiratory infection and then divided into two groups: exposure group (with Biofire taken) and non-exposure group (without Biofire taken). Retrospective chart review was done on the admitted patients and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: A total of 220 samples were included. Majority of patients in both groups were female, aged 1-5 years old, lived in an urban locality and with no influenza vaccination. The most single common virus detected was hRV/hEV(n=29%), while the most common codetection virus is hRV/hEV with influenza B (n=23.5%). For those who underwent the test, patients were frequently admitted in the year 2021 (n=90%) and month of July (n=28.2%). Utilization of the respiratory panel was associated with significant changes in medical management including decreased antibiotic usage (P=0.001) and shorter length of hospital stay (P=0.029),compared to those patients who didn’t undergo the test. CONCLUSION: The Film Array (Biofire) respiratory panel is useful in assisting clinical judgement regarding the usage of antibiotic as well as the length of hospitalization among children affected by acute respiratory infections.