They performed a prospective, controlled trial in two urban, academic emergency departments involving adults with cutaneous abscesses. All total, 252 patients were enrolled in the study and 126 were randomized to receive a rapid molecular test, as opposed to a standard of care culture-based test.
The study revealed:
1. Patients who tested positive for methicillin-susceptible S. aureus and received the rapid test results were prescribed beta-lactams 14.5 percent more often than controls.
2. Patients who tested positive for methicillin-resistant S. aureus and received rapid test results were prescribed anti-methicillin-resistant S. aureus antibiotics 21.5 percent more often than controls.
3. Ultimately, the more available rapid molecular test results were to clinicians, the more likely they were to select a more-targeted antibiotic for their patient. Despite the antibiotics chosen, there were no significant differences in clinical outcomes between the two groups after one week or three months.
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