Resumen

BUCHER, Andrea; RIVARA, Gustavo; BRICENO, Diego  y  HUICHO, Luis. Use of a rapid rotavirus test in prescription of antibiotics in acute diarrhea in pediatrics: an observational, randomized, controlled study. Rev. gastroenterol. Perú [online]. 2012, vol.32, n.1, pp.11-15. ISSN 1022-5129.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of a rapid and accurate rotavirus test in the emergency ward on the reduction of antibiotic prescription in children under 5 years old with acute diarrhea at "Arzobispo Loayza National Hospital", Lima, Peru. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed an observational prospective randomized controlled study, from July 2008 to January 2009. Stool samples from patients with diarrhea lasting less than 5 days were analyzed. Out of 201 cases, 101 were classified in Group A (with fecal leukocytes test performed) and 100 in Group B (with fecal leukocytes test and rotavirus/adenovirus test performed). We aimed to associate the signs and symptoms with the decision of prescribing antibiotics and with hospitalization risk. RESULTS: Both groups were comparable with regard to age, weight and illness duration. In patients with rotavirus infection, fecal leukocytes were positive in 46.9% of cases. Frequency of antibiotic use was directly associated with the number of fecal leukocytes (P<0.0001). There was a higher risk of admission in the group positive to rotavirus than in the group negative to this agent (21.9% vs. 6.3, P<0.0001). No diarrhea-attributable deaths were reported. CONCLUSION: The use of rotavirus test in the pediatric emergency room decreased antibiotic prescription in children with diarrhea.

Palabras clave : Rotavirus; adenovirus; acute diarhrea; fecal leukocytes.

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