{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,22]],"date-time":"2026-04-22T08:49:47Z","timestamp":1776847787009,"version":"3.51.2"},"reference-count":40,"publisher":"Oxford University Press (OUP)","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,9]],"date-time":"2025-07-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1752019200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":9,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"German Federal Ministry of Education and Research","award":["01KG2315"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["01KG2315"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,30]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n               <jats:sec>\n                  <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Point-of-care testing (POCT) for group A \u03b2-hemolytic Streptococcus (StrepA) allows for rapid testing for streptococcal infection in patients with signs of pharyngitis. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of StrepA POCTs on antibiotic prescribing and health outcomes in patients with signs of pharyngitis in outpatient care.<\/jats:p>\n               <\/jats:sec>\n               <jats:sec>\n                  <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs; January 2000\u2013January 2025). Random-effects models were used to calculate pooled risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for summary effect sizes.<\/jats:p>\n               <\/jats:sec>\n               <jats:sec>\n                  <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>From 15 097 unique records, we identified 8 eligible RCTs comparing the use of StrepA POCTs with standard care. The use of StrepA POCTs reduced the number of antibiotics prescribed by 38% (RR, 0.62 [95% CI, .51\u2013.77]; P &amp;lt; .001). In studies with StrepA POCTs as the sole intervention, antibiotic prescribing was reduced by 41% (RR, 0.59 [95% CI, .44\u2013.78]; P &amp;lt; .001; 5 RCTs). The reduction in antibiotic prescribing was observed in children (RR, 0.56 [95% CI, .39\u2013.81]; P = .002; 4 RCTs) and adults (RR, 0.57 [95% CI, .39\u2013.85]; P = .006; 2 RCTs). The number of follow-up healthcare visits did not differ between StrepA POCT and standard care (RR, 0.56 [95% CI, .29\u20131.09]; P = .086, 3 RCTs). There were no differences between point estimates of individual RCTs for other patient health outcomes, such as days until pain resolution and days of school\/work missed.<\/jats:p>\n               <\/jats:sec>\n               <jats:sec>\n                  <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>The use of StrepA POCTs in children and adults with signs of pharyngitis likely reduces the number of antibiotics prescribed without compromising patient health outcomes.<\/jats:p>\n               <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1093\/ofid\/ofaf407","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,9]],"date-time":"2025-07-09T15:20:41Z","timestamp":1752074441000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["The Impact of Point-of-Care Testing for Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis on Antibiotic Prescribing and Patient Health Outcomes in Outpatient Care: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials"],"prefix":"10.1093","volume":"12","author":[{"given":"Ann-Sophie","family":"M\u00e4gdefrau","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Jena University Hospital, Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Friedrich Schiller University Jena , Jena ,","place":["Germany"]},{"name":"InfectoGnostics Research Campus Jena , Jena ,","place":["Germany"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Carolin","family":"Kathner-Schaffert","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Jena University Hospital, Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Friedrich Schiller University Jena , Jena ,","place":["Germany"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1765-0344","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Anni","family":"Matthes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Jena University Hospital, Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Friedrich Schiller University Jena , Jena 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