Rapid Respiratory Microbiological Point-of-Care Testing and Antibiotic Use in Primary Care: A Randomized Clinical Trial

This randomized clinical trial aimed to determine whether rapid multiplex microbiological point-of-care testing (RM-POCT) could safely reduce same-day antibiotic prescribing for patients with respiratory infections in primary care settings. The results indicated that RM-POCT did not significantly decrease antibiotic prescriptions compared to usual care, nor did it negatively impact patient-reported symptom severity. However, the study found some evidence of reduced prescribing in specific subgroups, such as those with detected viral infections.