title: A qualitative study to identify reasons for Clostridium difficile testing in pediatric inpatients receiving laxatives or stool softeners.
abstract: To understand why clinicians send Clostridium difficile tests from hospitalized children receiving laxatives or stool softeners, we performed a mixed-methods study. We prospectively identified tested patients and surveyed their clinicians by e-mail. Reasons for testing included changes in stooling pattern on baseline bowel regimen, other changes in clinical status, and risk factors for C difficile infection. Education targeting discontinuing bowel medications before C difficile testing could improve the specificity of pediatric C difficile infection diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Infection Prevention and Control, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA. Electronic address: jkinlay@partners.org.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kinlay
authors.affiliation: Infection Prevention and Control, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Sandora
mesh_terms: D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D054368:Laxatives / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D054368:Laxatives
keywords: Bowel medications; Children; Diagnosis; Diarrhea