Table 5.
Antibiotic use and length of stay for asthma and IECOPD clinical subgroups
| POCT (n=360) | Control (n=354) | Difference (95% CI) | Odds ratio (95% CI) | p value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asthma | 62 (17%) | 57 (16%) | .. | .. | .. | |
| Antibiotics given | 43/62 (69%) | 36/57 (63%) | 6·2% (−10·5 to 22·6) | 1·32 (0·62 to 2·83) | 0·56 | |
| Single dose only | 14/43 (33%) | 3/36 (8%) | 24·2% (6·1 to 40·1) | 5·31 (1·38 to 20·41) | 0·0125 | |
| Given for <48 h | 18/43 (42%) | 4/36 (11%) | 30·8% (11·2 to 47·0) | 5·76 (1·73 to 19·20) | 0·0026 | |
| Duration of antibiotics (days) | 3·9 (3·4) | 5·3 (2·3) | −1·4 (−2·7 to −0·1) | .. | 0·0382 | |
| Length of hospital stay (days) | 3·4 (3·3) | 3·9 (3·5) | −0·5 (−1·8 to 0·9) | .. | 0·49 | |
| IECOPD | 81 (23%) | 83 (23%) | .. | .. | .. | |
| Antibiotics given | 75/81 (93%) | 75/83 (90%) | 2·2% (−6·9 to 11·4) | 1·33 (0·44 to 4·03) | 0·78 | |
| Single dose only | 7/75 (9%) | 3/75 (4%) | 5·3% (−3·2 to 14·4) | 2·47 (0·61 to 9·95) | 0·33 | |
| Given for <48 h | 11/75 (15%) | 3/75 (4%) | 10·7% (1·2 to 20·7) | 4·13 (1·10 to 15·50) | 0·0462 | |
| Duration of antibiotics (days) | 6·1 (3·2) | 8·0 (5·0) | −1·9 (−3·2 to −0·5) | .. | 0·0078 | |
| Length of hospital stay (days) | 4·5 (3·6) | 6·3 (6·2) | −1·8 (−3·4 to −0·2) | .. | 0·0276 | |
| Asthma or IECOPD | 143 (40%) | 140 (40%) | .. | .. | .. | |
| Antibiotics given | 118/143 (83%) | 111/140 (79%) | 3·2% (–6·0 to 12·4) | 1·23 (0·68 to 2·24) | 0·55 | |
| Single dose only | 21/118 (18%) | 6/111 (5%) | 12·4% (4·1 to 20·8) | 3·79 (1·47 to 9·78) | 0·0041 | |
| Given for <48 h | 29/118 (25%) | 7/111 (6%) | 18·3% (9·0 to 27·4) | 4·84 (2·02 to 11·59) | 0·0002 | |
| Duration of antibiotics (days) | 5·3 (3·4) | 7·1 (4·5) | −1·8 (−2·8 to −0·8) | .. | 0·0008 | |
| Length of hospital stay (days) | 4·0 (3·5) | 5·4 (5·5) | −1·4 (−2·5 to −0·2) | .. | 0·0186 | |
Data are n/N (%) or mean (SD). Medians and data on other subgroups are reproduced in the appendix (pp 7–8). POCT=point-of-care testing. IECOPD=infective exacerbation of COPD.