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Table 2 Clinical and economic outcomes between patients with a negative CDI test diagnosed via EIA or PCR assay

From: Clinical and economic impact of the introduction of a nucleic acid amplification assay for Clostridium difficile

Outcome

EIA (n = 141)

PCR (n = 140)

P value

No. of tests sent per patient

1.82 ± 1.35

1.41 ± 0.86

0.007

Turnaround time, hours

32.5 (4.3–91.7)

7.2 (2.4–16.9)

< 0.001

Empiric antibiotic therapy prior to negative result

27 (19.1)

9 (6.4)

0.002

Time to antibiotic discontinuation, days

6 (0–89)

1 (0–14)

0.002

Antibiotic therapy after negative result

26 (18.4)

8 (5.7)

0.002

Duration of therapy after negative result, days

4 (0–88)

1 (0–14)

0.029

Contact isolation

11 (7.8)

24 (17.1)

0.018

Duration of contact isolation, days

2 (1–24)

1 (0–13)

0.008

Length of stay, days

13.5 ± 14.1

14.8 ± 11

0.378

Hospital costs

20,170.21 ± 21,160.43

22,167.86 ± 16,523.10

0.378

Medication costs

546.60 ± 790.39

188.96 ± 179.14

0.191

CDI assay costs

8.33 (8.33–33.32)

42.86 (42.86–171.44)

< 0.0001

Total costs

20,290.00 ± 21,267.75

22,240.31 ± 16,535.50

0.391

  1. Data presented as mean ± SD, median (min–max), or n (%)
  2. aCosts presented in 2016 U.S. $