Costi Sifri MD., Associate Professor of Internal Medicine; Hospital Epidemiologist.
Co-Investigator: Gregory Madden MD.
Co-Investigator: David C. Smith PhD. McIntire School of Commerce and Associate Dean for Center Development & Research
Country:
United States
Clostridium difficile is the leading pathogen causing healthcare-associated infections; however, use of highly sensitive PCR stool testing can mistakenly diagnose C. difficile infection in patients who are asymptomatically colonized with C. difficile, leading to unnecessary treatment and other healthcare expenses. By leveraging PCR cycle threshold data to differentiate true infection versus colonization and identifying determinants of costs in these groups, we aim to answer the critical question: what is the cost of C. difficile overtesting and overdiagnosis?
Grant Date/Year:
August, 2018