Optimal use of Rapid Diagnostics in Infection Control and Prevention
Clinical laboratories have implemented rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for the identification of bacterial pathogens, with subsequent improvements in antimicrobial stewardship, but these tests may also have a role in infection prevention. Early identification of pathogens by RDTs should allow faster implementation of infection prevention strategies with the goal of reducing transmission. In this review, we assess the use of RDTs as an infection control tool by exploring their role in screening, as well as diagnosis, of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), carbapenem-resistant gram-negative organisms, Clostridium difficile, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Source: Clinical Microbiology Newsletter - Category: Microbiology Authors: Mary Elizabeth Sexton, Jesse T. Jacob Source Type: news
More News: Clostridium Difficile | Infectious Diseases | Microbiology | MRSA | Staphylococcus Aureus | Superbugs | Tuberculosis