Clinical Decision Rules in the Emergency Department to Improve the Management of Acute Respiratory Infection and Acute Infectious Diarrhea

Acute Respiratory Infections : Inclusion Criteria:

1. 18 years of age or older;
2. Able to consent to the study;
3. Reachable by phone;
4. Consent to be reached directly by phone;
5. At least one of the following respiratory symptoms consistent with an acuterespiratory infection for 10 days or less, i. Cough and/or ii. Purulent sputum and/oriii. Pharyngeal pain and/or iv. Nasal congestion and/or v. Rhinorrhea and/or vi.Agueusia and/or vii. Anosmia;
6. A triage score of 3 (30 minutes), 4 (60 minutes) or 5 (120 minutes) on the CanadianTriage and Acuity Scale (CTAS);
7. Triaged by the ED nurse and managed according to standard ED care protocols;
8. Resident of Québec;
9. Holder of a Québec health insurance number.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Cognitive impairment that prevents the patient from reliably answering the riskstratification tool or research questions;
2. Resident of a long-term care facility;
3. Refusal of nasopharyngeal swab. Acute infectious diarrhea : Inclusion Criteria:
4. 18 years of age or older;
5. Able to consent to the study;
6. Reachable by phone;
7. Consent to be reached directly by phone;
8. At least three loose or liquid stools over a 24-hour period and for 10 days or less;
9. A triage score of 3 (30 minutes), 4 (60 minutes) or 5 (120 minutes) on the CanadianTriage and Acuity Scale (CTAS);
10. Triaged by the ED nurse and managed according to standard ED care protocols;
11. Resident of Québec.
12. Holder of a Québec health insurance number. Exclusion Criteria:
13. Known neutropenia (<500 neutrophils);
14. Active inflammatory bowel disease;
15. Anorectal pathology;
16. Recent colonic surgery (< 6 months);
17. Cognitive impairment preventing the patient from reliably answering the riskstratification tool or research questions;
18. Resident of a long-term care facility;
19. Refusal of the rectal swab.