McCormick WL, Jackson G, Andrea SB, Whitehead V, Chargualaf TL, Touzard-Romo F. Impact of mandatory nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) testing approval on hospital-onset
Clostridioides difficile infection (HO-CDI) rates: A diagnostic stewardship intervention.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2024;
45:106-109. [PMID:
37424227 PMCID:
PMC10782198 DOI:
10.1017/ice.2023.92]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Misclassification of Clostridioides difficile colonization as hospital-onset C. difficile infection (HO-CDI) can lead to unnecessary treatment of patients and substantial financial penalties for hospitals. We successfully implemented mandatory C. difficile PCR testing approval as a strategy to optimize testing, which was associated with a significant decline in the monthly incidence of HO-CDI rates and lowering of our standardized infection ratio to 0.77 (from 1.03) 18 months after this intervention. Approval request served as an educational opportunity to promote mindful testing and accurate diagnosis of HO-CDI.
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