title: A comparison of multifaceted versus Clostridium difficile-focused VRE surveillance strategies in a low-prevalence setting.
abstract: We compared our current screening strategy for vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) with a focused strategy that screens all stool samples sent for Clostridium difficile toxin assay but limits rectal swab screening to wards with new VRE cases detected via C. difficile samples. The proposed strategy detects 72.7% of new VRE cases, with substantial cost savings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gardam
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burt
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Conly
mesh_terms: D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D009864:Ontario; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D020713:Vancomycin Resistance
chemical_list: D004768:Enterotoxins