A groundbreaking study published in the American Journal of Medical Quality reveals that healthcare providers increasingly leverage syndromic PCR-based molecular tests to guide antibiotic therapy and reduce empiric prescribing in outpatient settings. This research was led by an esteemed team, including Barbara D. Alexander, MD, MHS, Vice-Chief of the Transplant Infectious Diseases Services at Duke University and Advisor to HealthTrackRx.
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Addressing a Growing Public Health ConcernUnnecessary antibiotic prescribing continues to pose a global public health threat. Annually, approximately one-third of the 236.4 million antibiotic prescriptions dispensed from community pharmacies are unnecessary, with acute upper respiratory infections being a common culprit. Despite the viral origin of most of these infections, more than half of the patients receive antibiotics, contributing to the rise of antimicrobial resistance.
The inability to rapidly identify the pathogens causing infections has driven this reliance on empiric therapy-treating patients with broad-spectrum antibiotics before confirming the causative pathogen.
A Timely SolutionAdvances in molecular diagnostic testing now provide healthcare providers with rapid, pathogen-specific results, enabling targeted treatment decisions. Innovations such as syndromic PCR-based panels can disrupt empiric prescribing patterns by delivering actionable results within 24 hours. However, until now, it was unclear whether these tests were influencing prescribing behaviors in clinical practice.
Study FindingsThe study surveyed over 700 outpatient healthcare providers across the United States, uncovering significant shifts in prescribing practices. Key findings include:
— 97.4%of surveyed providers use syndromic PCR-based molecular test results to inform prescribing decisions.
— Nearly half (48.9%) wait for test results before prescribing antibiotics, while an equal proportion (48.6%) initially prescribe empirically and adjust treatment based on results.
— Providers reported a positive impact on prescribing patterns, including fewer and more accurate antibiotic prescriptions.
“These findings demonstrate a meaningful change in the way outpatient providers approach antibiotic prescribing,” said Dr. Alexander. “Molecular testing is empowering clinicians to make more informed decisions, contributing to the fight against antimicrobial resistance.”
A Step Forward in Combatting Antimicrobial ResistanceThe study underscores the critical role of molecular diagnostic testing in improving patient care and addressing public health challenges. By reducing unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions, these tests not only enhance prescribing accuracy but also help curb the emergence of resistant pathogens.
Read the full study at American Journal of Medical Quality.
About HealthTrackRx
HealthTrackRx is the nation's premier infectious disease laboratory delivering next-morning results through its advanced PCR-based testing solutions. Committed to “Getting People Healthier Faster,” the company partners with healthcare providers nationwide to improve patient outcomes, reduce total care costs, and promote better stewardship of antibiotics. For more information, please visit https://www.healthtrackrx.com.
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