PIAMS study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
PIAMS study - effect of Point of care testing for Influenza on AntiMicrobial Stewardship in primary care in the UK
IRAS ID
292961
Contact name
Simon de Lusignan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 2 months, 30 days
Research summary
Research Summary
Why is this study being undertaken? - Influenza (flu) is a virus that can cause illness and death. Treatments need to be given within 24 to 48 hours from the onset of symptoms to be most effective. Recently, tests that can diagnose flu very fast and accurately have become available.What is being studied? - For the 2020/21 flu season, we will test new ways of identifying people with flu who come to see their GP. This includes taking nasal swabs of those with flu-like symptoms and performing rapid tests at the practice, rather than sending the swab to a laboratory. These tests are known as “point-of-care tests”.
Who is eligible for the study and where is the study taking place? – Up to ten general practices in England will take part in the study. All patients in these practices will be eligible to take part should they present to their general practice with influenza-like illness, acute respiratory illness or fever higher than 37.5 °C.
How long will the study last and what will the participants undergo? – The study will take place between April 2021 and June 2021. Patients with influenza-like illness, acute respiratory illness or fever higher than 37.5 °C will be assessed by a trained GP or nurse for suitability to take part. Informed consent will be obtained from volunteer patients for participation in this study. Consented patients will have nasal swabs taken by a GP or nurse. The swab will be tested for flu viruses using a test machine in the practice. This will produce a result in under 60 minutes and will be made available to the patient’s GP.
Summary of Results
For the 2022/23 flu season, we tested new ways of identifying people with flu who come to see their GP. This included taking nasopharyngeal swabs of those with flu-like symptoms and performing rapid tests at the practice, rather than sending the swab to a laboratory. These tests are known as “point-of-care tests”.Influenza (flu) is a virus that can cause illness and death. Treatments need to be given within 24 to 48 hours from the onset of symptoms to be most effective. Recently, tests that can diagnose flu very fast and accurately have become available.
Between Dec 2022 and June 2023, we recruited ten general practices in England to take part in the study. All patients in these practices were eligible to take part should they present to their general practice with influenza-like illness or fever higher than 37.5 °C. Consented patients had nasopharyngeal swabs taken by a GP or nurse. The swab will be tested for flu viruses in the practice using a POCT machine.
In total 339 swabs were taken. Observations of the study practices showed two modes of POCT integration into practice workflow. Questionnaire surveys of the practice staff taking swabs indicated that most primary care staff considered the POCT training offered was sufficient, and these practices were ready for change and had the capacity and resources to integrate POCT in workflows.
Further results from the study including data collected from the swabs will be published later this year.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Sheffield Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/YH/0077
Date of REC Opinion
26 Apr 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion