Respiratory Virus Testing Does Not Necessarily Lower Antibiotic Use

Testing patients with acute respiratory infections for influenza — and sometimes for a range of viruses with multiplex panels — is increasingly common. In theory, making specific viral diagnoses should help curtail unnecessary antibiotic use, but is that what really happens?

Canadian researchers performed a meta-analysis of 12 randomized trials published between 2003 and 2022 in which emergency department care, with or without use of respiratory viral diagnostics, was evaluated for patients with acute respiratory infections. In four studies, researchers examined testing for influenza alone, and in eight studies, panels for multiple viruses were examined. None included COVID-19 testing. About 80% of patients were younger than 18.

Overall use o…