Abstract

Tests other than reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on nasopharyngeal swab specimens are less common for the detection of human metapneumovirus. Despite being quick, easy, and not requiring any specialised equipment, immunochromatography experiments can lack appropriate sensitivity. In this paper, immunochromatography techniques for the detection of human metapneumovirus in adult patients with acute lower respiratory tract infection caused by human metapneumovirus are described. Clear understanding of antibiotic misuse and the symptoms that result in prescriptions is necessary for antibiotic stewardship.

This study set out to determine how much of the antibiotic prescriptions written throughout the cold and flu season were due to acute lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). Weekly time series of outpatient antibiotic (beta-lactams and macrolides) prescriptions were created using individual data from the French National Health Insurance (NHI) database between January 2010 and December 2017. Additionally, time series of discharge diagnoses classified by certain syndromes from a national network of emergency departments (EDs) using the tenth version of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) were created (pneumonia, bronchitis, bronchiolitis and influenza-like illness).For the total population, including young children (under 5 years) and the elderly (over 75 years), the number of outpatient antibiotic prescriptions attributed to these symptoms throughout the cold season in France was modelled and approximated.