Influenza testing, diagnosis, and treatment in the emergency department in 2009-2010 and 2010-2011.

Objectives: The objective was to describe patterns of rapid influenza test ordering, diagnosis of influenza, and antiviral prescribing by the treating physician for children and adults presenting to emergency departments (EDs) with fever and acute respiratory symptoms in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, over two influenza seasons.

Methods: The authors prospectively enrolled patients presenting to the ED with fever and acute respiratory symptoms for two influenza seasons: H1N1 pandemic of September 2009 through mid-May 2010 and November 2010 through April 2011. Enrolled patients had nose or and throat swabs obtained and tested for influenza by viral culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing.