Less than 15% of acute respiratory infections (ARI) require antibiotics yet over 50% receive antibiotics. Methods: FebriDx was performed on patients presenting with suspected ARI to an outpatient pediatric practice. Patients clinically suspected of bacterial infection received FebriDx testing and quantitative CRP. Physicians documented proposed treatment plan comparing the influence of using clinical assessment (CA) plus CRP versus CA plus FebriDx. Results: Twenty children (2-12y) participated.

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... Four had fever without source and 16 were clinically diagnosed with bacterial infection. Point-of-care (POC) testing plus CA determined that 90% (18/20) of patients originally characterized as bacterial by CA alone were subsequently deemed to have viral infections or microbiological unconfirmed respiratory illness (MURI) based on additional POC results. FebriDx reduced antibiotic prescription by 90% versus a 55% potential reduction associated with CRP. Patients did not require re-consultations or experience complications. Conclusion: FebriDx may reduce unnecessary antibiotic prescribing compared to CRP testing in the outpatient pediatric setting.