LAUSR

Abstract Several anti-infective agents are available in the treatment of acute respiratory infection. Use of anti-infective agents has hardly been directed by laboratory finding. We hypothesis the clinical fore casters of acute respiratory can assist in making right treatment decision and avoid needless use of antibiotic. This nurse led care research designed to observe predictive factors this can assist in making right treatment decision and avoid needless use of antibiotic. In this retrospective study, medical records of adults and who were suffering from acute respiratory infection and had influenza like symptoms which includes high body temperature, body ache, muscle pain, cough, and sore throat. Based on the signs and symptoms, patients were subjected in laboratory examination and culture test. Medical records of Chinese patients with confirm diagnosis of influenza was selected. We also assessed the medical records of patients with no influenza based on laboratory investigation. Correlation of signs and symptoms with laboratory examination was performed to identify the best predictive factors of acute respiratory infection which can assist in making right treatment decision and avoid needless use of antibiotic. Medical records of 1220 adults who were suffering from influenza like symptoms at baseline were reviewed by nurse. Of total subjects, a total of 824 (67.5%) were identified to have acute respiratory infection (influenza). We observed significantly higher incidence of cough, high body tem (fever) and both was noted among the patients who had acute respiratory infection (influenza) compared to those patients with no acute respiratory infection (influenza). Mixed model analysis revealed high correlation of two symptoms (cough and fever) with acute respiratory infection (influenza). The results of this nurse led care research suggested that Chinese patients who experienced cough and fever within first 48 h of onset of acute respiratory infection are more likely to have influenza, and thus appropriate antiviral therapy is recommended in patients with acute respiratory infection (influenza). Prediction of acute respiratory infection based on early symptoms is one of the effective ways of patient care. Our study results will assist in making right treatment decision and avoid needless use of antibiotic.