Westbrook Family Practice Clinic Study

Over 70 million cases of influenza are reported annually and they are the number one reason for primary care physician visits.

Dr. James' practice consists of four physicians and a PA who see 150 patients per day during flu season. The study undertook evaluation of influenza symptom triage to facilitate more efficient management of patients with influenza-like symptoms and to reduce the incidence of antibiotic prescriptions written for non-bacterial illnesses because of lack of a definitive diagnosis.

This research sought to discover the accuracy of diagnosing influenza with a rapid influenza test versus a physician's clinical judgement. Researchers used ZstatFlu™ to test 479 patients presenting with two or more of the following symptoms: temperature of 100°F or greater, cough, body aches, sore throat and headache. The presence of influenza was also confirmed by a 21-day viral culture. One group of patients was tested first with ZstatFlu if they had no complicating symptoms such as shortness of breath or chronic illness and, if positive for flu, they were given antiviral medication and sent home without examination by a physician. The other group of patients presenting with flu-like symptoms, but also with complicating symptoms, was first tested with ZstatFlu and then examined by the physician after a white blood cell count was obtained.

• Investigators were unable to accurately predict and diagnose which patients had influenza by any symptom or combination of symptoms alone.
• White blood cell count testing alone or with any combination of flu symptoms failed to show any positive predictive value.
• Patients recorded enhanced satisfaction from knowing their diagnosis quickly and were impressed with the increased use of antiviral medications and the decreased use of antibiotics.
• Symptom triage to ZstatFlu testing was found to improve the quality of patient care.