Use of multiplex polymerase chain reaction test in hospitalized newborns with acute respiratory tract infection: a randomized controlled trial
Abstract
Aims: We aimed to investigate whether the use of multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test reduced the duration of hospital stay, duration of antibiotic use and total hospital costs in neonates with acute respiratory tract infection (RTI).
Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study including newborns with a diagnosis of RTI. We included two groups to compare the durations of antibiotic treatment, lengths of hospital stay, and total hospital costs. The first group, referred to as the “respiratory tract panel (RTP) group,” consisted of our patients who underwent RTP testing. For comparison, a “non-RTP group” was created by simulating the same patients as if they had not undergone RTP testing based on the recommendations of the national neonatal society for managing similar cases.
Results: Among 76 neonates, 20 (26.3%) of the patients were diagnosed with viral RTI and 23 (30.3%) were diagnosed with bacterial RTI according to RTP. No causative agent in the etiology of RTI was detected in 33 (43.4%) newborns. No significant difference was found when the RTP group and the non-RTP group were compared in terms of duration of antibiotic use and length of hospital stay. Total hospital costs were higher in the RTP group compared to the non-RTP group (22.700 [15.890-26.105] TRY vs. 20.430 [13.620-23.835] TRY, p = 0.009).
Conclusion: The use of multiplex PCR test did not have effect on the duration of antibiotic use and hospital stay in neonatal RTI. However, total…
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Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design.
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