Rapid respiratory microbiological point-of-care testing (RM-POCT) has emerged as a promising strategy to improve antibiotic stewardship by helping clinicians identify the cause of respiratory infections more quickly. However, a recent randomized clinical trial published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that the approach did not reduce overall antibiotic prescribing in primary care. The study enrolled 552 patients with acute respiratory tract infections across 16 general practices in England.
Participants were randomized to receive either RM-POCT-guided care or standard clinical management. The testing platform detected multiple respiratory viruses and atypical bacterial pathogens, providing results within approximately 45 minutes and successfully identifying pathogens in a substantial proportion of patients. Despite improved diagnostic information, same-day antibiotic prescribing…
