Reductions in positive Clostridioides difficile events reportable to National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) with adoption of reflex enzyme immunoassay (EIA) testing in 13 Atlanta hospitals. (8th July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Goodenough, Dana; Sefton, Samantha; Overton, Elizabeth; Smith, Elizabeth; Kraft, Colleen S.; Varkey, Jay B.; Fridkin, Scott K.
• Is Part Of: Infection control and hospital epidemiology. Volume 43:Number 7(2022)
• Page Start: 935
• Page End: 938
• Publication Date: 2022-07-08
• Subjects: Nosocomial infections -- Epidemiology -- Periodicals; Health facilities -- Sanitation -- Periodicals; Hospital buildings -- Sanitation -- Periodicals; Cross Infection -- Periodicals; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; Hospitals -- Periodicals; Infection Control -- Periodicals; 614.44
• DOI: 10.1017/ice.2021.145
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0899-823X

Abstract

Abstract: In total, 13 facilities changed C. difficile testing to reflexive testing by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) only after a positive nucleic acid-amplification test (NAAT); the standardized infection ratio (SIR) decreased by 46% (range, −12% to −71% per hospital). Changing testing practice greatly influenced a performance metric without changing C. difficile infection prevention practice.