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Discontinuation of Reflex Testing of Stool Samples for Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci Resulted in Increased Prevalence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Mandy Bodily*
Affiliation:
Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Infection Prevention Department, Saint Louis, Missouri
Kathleen M. McMullen
Affiliation:
Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Infection Prevention Department, Saint Louis, Missouri
Anthony J. Russo
Affiliation:
Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Infection Prevention Department, Saint Louis, Missouri
Nupur D. Kittur
Affiliation:
Washington University in Saint Louis, Infectious Diseases, Saint Louis, Missouri
Joan Hoppe-Bauer
Affiliation:
Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Microbiology Laboratory, Saint Louis, Missouri
David K. Warren
Affiliation:
Washington University in Saint Louis, Infectious Diseases, Saint Louis, Missouri
*
8451 Pearl Street, Denver, CO 80229 (mbodily@vhdenver.com)

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; P < .01). Cost-benefit analysis showed reflex screening and isolation of VRE reduced hospital costs.

Type
Concise Communication
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2013

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