A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 4 studies with a total of 1595 children. Rapid viral testing did not reduce antibiotic use in the emergency departments (EDs) significantly (RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.71 to 1.12; 4 studies, n=1590), neither clinically nor statistically. Lower rates of chest radiography (RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.65 to 0.91; 4 studies, n=1590) were found in the rapid viral testing group but no effect on length of ED visits (MD -10.6 min, 95% CI -22.5 to 1.25; 3 studies, n=1290), blood (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.62 to 1.0; 4 studies, n=1590) or urine testing (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.79 to 1.19; 4 studies, n=1588) in the ED.
Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by study quality (unclear allocation concealment) and by imprecise results (limited study size for each comparison).
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