Community-acquired acute respiratory tract infections (CA-ARTI) are among the most prevalent infectious diseases worldwide. The optimal clinical management of CA-ARTIs is often hindered by delays in diagnosis and the low sensitivity of diagnostic tests, leading to incorrect or missed diagnoses and the inappropriate prescription of antibiotics.
This misuse significantly contributes to the selection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which in turn exacerbates the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which is particularly problematic in primary care and emergency departments.
What is ADEQUATE?
ADEQUATE (“Advanced Diagnostics for Enhanced QUality of Antibiotic prescription in respiratory Tract infections in Emergency rooms”) is a Penta-sponsored randomised controlled trial of Rapid Syndromic Diagnostic testing, seeking to improve the quality of antibiotic prescribing for community-acquired acute respiratory tract infection (CA-ARTI) in Emergency Rooms in Europe. It is part of the VALUE-Dx project.
Why is ADEQUATE needed?
There is a need to evaluate how Rapid Syndromic Diagnostic testing affects clinical decisions about hospitalisation and antibiotic prescribing for patients with CA-ARTI in Emergency Rooms, and to ensure that decisions based on these test results do not compromise patient safety.
What are ADEQUATE’s objectives?
The trial aims to asses the impact of Rapid Syndromic Diagnostic testing in patients with CA-ARTI in Emergency Rooms on:
- Days in hospital within 14 days after study enrolment
- Days with antibiotic therapy within 14 days after study enrolment
- Occurrence of adverse outcome within 30 days after study enrolment.
What is VALUE-Dx?
ADEQUATE is the paediatric study of VALUE-Dx, an IMI2-funded project whose focus is to combat AMR by improving diagnostic strategies and optimising antibiotic prescribing. Coordinated by the University of Antwerp, the vision of VALUE-Dx is to transform clinical practice, improve patient outcomes and combat AMR through the widespread use of clinical and cost-effective innovative diagnostics strategies in order to achieve more personalised, evidence-based antibiotic prescription and use in community care settings.
VALUE-Dx has received funding from the Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking under grant agreement No 820755. This Joint Undertaking receives support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and EFPIA and bioMérieux SA, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Accelerate Diagnostics S.L., Abbott, Bio-Rad Laboratories, BD Switzerland Sàrl and The Wellcome Trust Limited.