Economic Evaluation of FebriDx®: A Novel Rapid, Point-of-Care Test for Differentiation of Viral versus Bacterial Acute Respiratory Infection in the United States

Background: Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are commonly treated with antibiotics in outpatient settings, but many infections are caused by viruses and antibiotic treatment is therefore inappropriate. FebriDx®, a rapid point-of-care test that can differentiate viral from bacterial infections, can inform antibiotic treatment decisions. Objectives: The primary aim of this study is to conduct a literature-based US economic evaluation of a novel rapid point-of-care test, FebriDx®, that simultaneously measures two key infection biomarkers, C-reactive protein (CRP) and Myxovirus resistance protein A (MxA), to accurately differentiate viral from bacterial infection. Methods: A budget impact model was developed based on a review of published literature on antibiotic prescribing for ARIs in the United States. The model considers the cost of antibiotic treatment, antibiotic resistant infections, antibiotic-related adverse events, and point-of-care testing. These costs were extrapolated to estimate savings on a national level. Results: The expected national cost to treat ARIs under standard of care was US $8.25 billion, whereas the expected national cost of FebriDx point-of-care-guided ARI treatment was US $5.74 billion. Therefore, the expected national savings associated with FebriDx® rapid point-of-care testing was US $2.51 billion annually. Conclusions: FebriDx, a point of care test that can reliably aid in the differentiation of viral and bacterial infections, can reduce antibiotic misuse and, therefore, antibiotic resistant infections. This results in significant cost savings, driven primarily by the reduction in antibiotic resistant infections.