Randomised controlled trial comparing point-of-care testing for respiratory viruses with standard clinical care in adults hospitalised with acute respiratory illness
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN90211642 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN90211642 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT) | Nil known |
| Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) | Nil known |
| Protocol serial number | RHM MED 1217 |
| Sponsor | University Hospital Southampton Foundation NHS Trust |
| Funder | University of Southampton |
- Submission date
- 24/12/2014
- Registration date
- 14/01/2015
- Last edited
- 21/06/2019
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Respiratory
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Respiratory viruses, including the influenza virus, cause large numbers of people to become unwell and be admitted to hospital every winter. The current diagnostic tests for respiratory viruses are done in laboratories away from patients and are time consuming, taking more than 24 hours to generate a result for doctors. New rapid tests for respiratory viruses have been developed that can be done in admission units and give results within 1 hour. These tests have equivalent accuracy to the standard laboratory tests and are licensed for clinical use in Europe and the USA. Introducing these new tests to admission units might improve the identification and management of patients infected with respiratory viruses and could also improve infection control practices to stop the spread of viruses within hospitals. Identifying viruses at an early stage of a patient’s care might also lead to a reduction in antibiotic use, which is important in reducing the spread of antibiotic resistance in hospitals. These changes might lead to an overall reduction in the costs for the National Health Service and its institutions. The aim of this study is to assess whether a test can improve people’s health, help them take fewer antibiotics and help them be less likely to end up in hospitals.
Who can participate?
Patients with a respiratory infection caused by viruses
What does the study involve?
Patients presenting to a hospital with respiratory illness are randomly allocated to have a rapid test for respiratory viruses in addition to standard care or to standard care alone.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Improvement in clinical care, reduction in antibiotic use and reduction in the cost of hospital admissions
Where is the study run from?
University Hospitals Southampton Foundation NHS Trust (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
January 2015 to December 2016
Who is funding the study?
University of Southampton, Faculty of Medicine (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Tristan Clark
Contact information
Scientific
LF101, Level F, South Academic Block
University Hospitals Southampton
Tremona Road
Southampton
SO16 6YD
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0001-6026-5295 |
|---|
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Comparison of point-of-care testing for respiratory viruses with standard clinical care in adults presenting to secondary care with acute respiratory illness (ResPOC): a randomised controlled study |
| Study acronym | ResPOC |
| Study objectives | Point-of-care testing for respiratory viruses in adults hospitalised with acute respiratory illness might reduce antibiotic use, improve use of influenza treatments, improve use of isolation facilities and might reduce overall costs of hospitalisation compared with standard clinical care. |
| Ethics approval(s) | National Research Ethics Service Committee North West - Preston (UK), 05/12/2014, ref: 14/NW/1467 Substantial amendments approved 09/07/2015 and 02/02/2016 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Acute respiratory illness |
| Intervention | Participants are enrolled and assigned a study number consequently. Patients are randomised 1:1 to the intervention or control groups using an online randomisation service (sealed envelope.com). Blinding is not attempted. Intervention group: A nose and throat swab will be taken by a member of research staff (doctor or nurse) according to standard protocols. Swabs are placed directly into viral transport medium. The sample is analysed on the FilmArray Respiratory Panel as per training delivered by the apparatus manufacturer. Test results are normally available within 1 hour using the FilmArray Respiratory Panel. In the event of a run failure, the analysis run will be repeated using the same sample. The results of the test will be documented in the patient’s case notes and in the event of a pathogen being detected, a doctor from the clinical team responsible for the patient will be directly informed. The participant will also be informed of the result on the same day. Control: These patients will be managed using standard clinical care. Respiratory virus testing using lab RT-PCT will be at the discretion of the responsible clinical team. There is no follow up for study participants. Outcomes are collected retrospectively from case notes for the entire duration of hospitalisation or at 30 days, whichever is shortest. |
| Intervention type | Device |
| Phase | |
| Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s) | |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Proportion of patients treated with antibiotics: measured retrospectively from case notes for the entire duration of hospitalisation or at 30 days, whichever is shortest |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
Secondary outcome measures as of 27/09/2016: |
| Completion date | 30/04/2016 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 720 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Aged 18 years old or over 2. Capacity to provide written informed consent and is able and willing to adhere to the study procedures 3. Is a patient at Southampton General Hospital Acute Medical Unit (AMU) or Emergency Department (ED) 4. Can be recruited to the study within 24 hours of first triage by ED staff or within 24 hours of arrival on AMU (if admitted directly to AMU) 5. Has an acute respiratory illness and/or fever >37.5°C 6. Duration of illness less than or equal to 7 days An episode of acute respiratory illness is defined as an acute pulmonary illness (including pneumonia, bronchitis and influenza-like illness) or an acute exacerbation of a chronic respiratory illness (including exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma or bronchiectasis). |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. A palliative approach is being taken by the treating clinicians 2. Previously included in this study (first season only) 3. Declines nasal or pharyngeal swabbing |
| Date of first enrolment | 15/01/2015 |
| Date of final enrolment | 31/12/2016 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- England
Study participating centre
Southampton
SO16 6YD
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | results | 01/05/2017 | Yes | No | |
| Protocol article | protocol | 06/02/2017 | Yes | No | |
| HRA research summary | 28/06/2023 | No | No | ||
| Other publications | post-hoc analysis | 09/08/2018 | Yes | No | |
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
21/06/2019: Publication reference added.
16/01/2018: internal review.
11/04/2017: Publication reference added.
09/02/2017: Publication reference added.
27/09/2016: The trial record has undergone an extensive update as it has changed from a pilot study to an internal pilot of a larger full study (following ethical approval of substantial amendments). The following changes have been made:
1. The public title has been updated (originally: "A preliminary comparison of point-of-care testing for respiratory viruses with standard clinical care in adults with respiratory illness")
2. The scientific title has been updated (originally: "Comparison of point-of-care testing for respiratory viruses with standard clinical care in adults presenting to secondary care with acute respiratory illness (ResPOC): a randomised controlled, pilot study")
3. The dates of ethical amendments have been added
4. The target number of participants have been updated from 400 to 720
5. The secondary outocme measures have been updated
6. The overall trial end date has been updated from 30/04/2016 to 31/12/2016
7. Information about the randomisation process and what the study arms involve has been added to the interventions section.
