Cost Consequences for the NHS of Using a Two-Step Testing Method for the Detection of Clostridium difficile with a Point of Care, Polymerase Chain Reaction Test as the First Step.

ABSTRACT: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a common healthcare-associated infection. Current practice for diagnosing CDI in the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust involves a three-step, laboratory testing strategy using glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) enzyme immunoassay (EIA), followed by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test then a toxin EIA. However, a PCR point of care test (POCT) for the C. difficile tcdB gene for screening suspected CDI cases, may provide a more efficient way of facilitating an equally effective, two-step, testing strategy with a toxin EIA. This study evaluated the cost consequences of changing from the three-step to a two-step testing strategy. A cost-consequences model was developed to compare the costs and consequences of the two strategies. Uncertaint

SUBMITTER: Jones WS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7602277 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature