Know When to Test: Optimizing Diagnostic Practices for Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI) Among Patients at a Tertiary-Care Cancer Center

摘要

BackgroundPolymerase chain reaction (PCR) based diagnostic testing for the detection of toxigenic Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) does not distinguish between carriers and patients with true CDI. As a result, CDI is over-diagnosed in hospitalized patients with diarrhea. Unnecessary testing generates false positives and several downstream sequelae.Aim: The aim of this study was to reduce unnecessary testing for CDI through an electronic alert, targeted education, and implementation of evidence-based laboratory testing policy.