Sarah K Amer
Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, Egypt
Title: Rapid Antigen Strep A Test (RADT) impact on antibiotic prescribing behavior in acute pharyngeal infection
Biography
Biography: Sarah K Amer
Abstract
Acute bacterial pharyngitis is one of the major common diseases accounting for high outpatient visits rates. It is caused by Streptococcus pyogenes (group A betahemolytic); gram-positive cocci containing the Lancefield Group A antigen. Antibiotic prescriptions for pharyngitis have been estimated for increased health costs. It is challenging to distinguish between viral and bacterial pharyngeal infection on sight in outpatient clinics as traditional bacterial pharyngeal identification procedures require almost 24 to 48 hours. However, other approaches as the Rapid Response Strep A Test Strip (RADT) provides results within 5 minutes. The test uses specific antibodies to rapidly, qualitatively and selectively detect the presence of Strep A antigen in throat swab specimens. The study assessed the use of RADT and their impact on antibiotics prescribing behavior of physicians in outpatient clinics in the Ministry of Health hospitals in Alexandria, Egypt. It also studied the barriers hindering the use of RADTs. The study revealed that the physicians’ compliance regarding their use of RADT varied according to their different qualifications’ degrees. Bachelor’s degree physicians were the most to use the RADT resulting in the highest significant decrease in antibiotics prescribing rate from 82.5% to 20% (p=0.002). Followed by master’s degree physicians; they also showed a significant reduction from 92% to 65.7% (p=0.017). A borderline acceptable decline from 86.7% to 80% (p=0.056) was seen among the Ph.D. physicians; they were the least group utilizing RADT as they mainly relied on their clinical experience claiming that the test detects only one bacterium for a positive result, which was considered as the main barrier limiting their use of RADT. However, the study achieved a significant decrease in antibiotics prescription in outpatient clinics attributed to the availability of RADT. Conclusively, RADT could be a reliable tool to ensure bacterial diagnosis through differentiation between viral and bacterial infections.