Overdiagnosis of Clostridium difficile Infection in the Molecular Test Era.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Clostridium difficile is a major cause of health care-associated infection, but disagreement between diagnostic tests is an ongoing barrier to clinical decision making and public health reporting. Molecular tests are increasingly used to diagnose C difficile infection (CDI), but many molecular test-positive patients lack toxins that historically defined disease, making it unclear if they need treatment.

Objective

To determine the natural history and need for treatment of patients who are toxin immunoassay negative and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive (Tox-/PCR+) for CDI.

Design, setting, and participants

Prospective observational cohort study at a single academic medical center among 1416 hospitalized adults tested for C difficile toxins 72 hours or

SUBMITTER: Polage CR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4948649 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature