title: Cost-effectiveness of rapid diagnosis of viral respiratory tract infections in pediatric patients.
abstract: Rapid diagnosis of respiratory viral infections in children resulted in significantly reduced hospital stays, antibiotic use, and laboratory utilization compared with those of a matched group of patients from the previous year who were diagnosed by virus culture. We demonstrate that rapid diagnosis of respiratory infections in children is a cost-effective procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Seto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peiris
mesh_terms: D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics*; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics*
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000998:Antiviral Agents