title: Rapid detection of glycopeptide-resistant enterococci: impact on decision-making and costs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  According to French national recommendations, the detection of a patient colonized with glycopeptide-resistant enterococci (GRE) leads to interruption of new admissions and transfer of contact patients (CPs) to another unit or healthcare facility, with weekly screening of CPs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We evaluated the medical and economic impact of a pragmatic adaptation of national guidelines associated with a real-time PCR (RTP) (Cepheid Xpert™ vanA/vanB) as part of the strategy for controlling GRE spread in two medical wards. Screening was previously performed using chromogenic selective medium (CSM). Turn around time (TAT), costs of tests and cost of missed patient days were prospectively collected. In February 2012, the identification of GRE in one patient in the diabetology ward led to the screening of 31 CPs using CSM; one secondary case was identified in a CP already transferred to the Nephrology ward. Awaiting the results of SCM (median TAT, 70.5 h), 41 potential patient days were missed, due to interruption of admissions. The overall cost (screening tests + missing patient.days) was estimated at 14, 302.20 €. The secondary case led to screening of 22 CPs in the Nephrology ward using RTP. Because of a short median TAT of 4.6 h, we did not interrupt admissions and patients' transfers. Among 22 CPs, 19 (86%) were negative for vanA, 2 were positive for vanB and 3 had invalid results needing CSM. The overall cost of the strategy was estimated at 870.40 € (cost of screening tests only), without missing patient days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rapid PCR test for vanA-positive GRE detection both allowed rapid decision about the best infection control strategy and prevented loss of income due to discontinuation of patient transfers and admissions.
authors.affiliation: IAME, UMR 1137, Univ Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, F-75018 Paris, France. gbirgand@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Birgand
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ruimy
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwarzinger
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lolom
authors.forename: Gisèle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bendjelloul
authors.forename: Nadira
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Houhou
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Armand-Lefevre
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andremont
authors.forename: Yazdan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yazdanpanah
authors.forename: Jean-Christophe
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lucet