Do rapid diagnostic methods improve antibiotic prescribing in paediatric bacteraemia?

Rapid blood culture pathogen identification facilitated by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation time-of-flight and GeneXpert has the potential to improve antibiotic prescribing. This study investigates the impact of these rapid diagnostics on the timeliness of effective and optimal antibiotic prescribing in paediatric patients with bacteraemia.

Citation:
Faugno AK, Laidman AY, Perez Martinez JD, Campbell AJ, Blyth CC. Do rapid diagnostic methods improve antibiotic prescribing in paediatric bacteraemia? J Paediatr Child Health. 2021;57(4):574-80.

Keywords:
GeneXpert; antimicrobial therapy; bacteraemia; matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation time-of-flight; paediatrics

Abstract:
Rapid blood culture pathogen identification facilitated by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation time-of-flight and GeneXpert has the potential to improve antibiotic prescribing. This study investigates the impact of these rapid diagnostics on the timeliness of effective and optimal antibiotic prescribing in paediatric patients with bacteraemia.