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Respiratory viral panel did not affect antibiotic duration, length of hospital stay

Respiratory viral panel performed within 24 hours of admission did not affect antibiotic duration or length of stay among hospitalized pediatric cancer patients, according to data presented at ICAAC 2014.

Researchers from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center assessed 321 pediatric patients admitted to a tertiary cancer center who had a respiratory viral panel administered within 24 hours of admission. Nasopharyngeal swabs were analyzed via multiplex PCR for 17 viruses and three bacteria.

Sixty-four percent of patients had concomitant fever and neutropenia or other infection; 42% received treatment for fever and neutropenia. Of the 161 patients who had a positive respiratory viral panel result, 131 had upper and/or lower respiratory infection symptoms. Of the 160 patients with a negative respiratory viral panel result, 51 had respiratory infection symptoms.

Analysis showed no association between a positive respiratory viral panel result and duration of antibiotics or length of hospital stay. The presence of fever and neutropenia or other infection was associated with longer antibiotic duration (P<.0001) and length of hospital stay (P<.0001).

“Regardless of diagnosed respiratory viral infection, the frequent presence of fever and neutropenia and/or other infection necessitated the continuation of antibiotic therapy and influenced hospital length of stay,” the researchers concluded.

For more information:

Cohen N. Abstract G-304. Presented at: 2014 Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy; Sept. 5-9, 2014; Washington, D.C.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.