Implementation of influenza point-of-care-testing and patient-cohorting during a high-incidence season: a retrospective analysis of impact on infection prevention and control and clinical outcomes

BACKGROUND: During high-incidence influenza seasons, a robust infection prevention and control policy is imperative to reduce nosocomial transmission of influenza. AIM: To assess the impact of Emergency Department (ED) influenza point-of-care-testing (POCT) and influenza-ward patient-cohorting on infection prevention and control and clinical outcomes. METHODS: Influenza POCT was operational in our adult ED from 21st January 2018 and an influenza-ward from 25th January 2018. A retrospective 'before-after' analysis was performed with pre-intervention defined as 1st November 2017-20th January 2018 and post-intervention 21st January-30th April 2018. Primary outcome was rate of hospital-acquired influenza (HAI). Secondary outcomes included antiviral prescription and length of stay. The length of time inpatients remain influenza RNA detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was also analysed.