Implementation of two-stage testing for Clostridioides difficile at a tertiary referral veterans hospital.

Abstract

Clostridioides difficile infection is a common community and nosocomial infection. Two-stage testing (initial polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, followed by a confirmatory toxin test for PCR+ results) has been used to help differentiate colonization from infection. We report the impact of adopting two-stage testing at a tertiary Veterans Affairs medical center.