Discontinuation of reflex testing of stool samples for vancomycin-resistant enterococci resulted in increased prevalence.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2013 Aug;34(8):838-40
Authors: Bodily M, McMullen KM, Russo AJ, Kittur ND, Hoppe-Bauer J, Warren DK
Abstract
Discontinuation of reflex testing of stool submitted for Clostridium difficile testing for vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) led to an increase in the number of patients with healthcare-associated VRE bacteremia and bacteriuria (0.21 vs 0.36 cases per 1,000 patient-days; [Formula: see text]). Cost-benefit analysis showed reflex screening and isolation of VRE reduced hospital costs.
PMID: 23838226 [PubMed - in process]