New Alert for C. diff by PCR Orders

In the next few weeks, there will be a new alert added that will aid in the prevention of ordering unnecessary C. diff by PCR testing.

As approved by the Use & Standards governance committee, the alert will impact inpatient ordering only.

There will be an alert that will prevent ordering C. diff by PCR if a previous C. diff has been ordered within 7 days.  

According to Clinical Practice Guidelines for Clostridium difficile Infection in Adults and Children: 2017 Update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), it is recommending to not repeat Clostridium difficile testing (within 7 days) during the same episode of diarrhea.  As a result, all Stool C difficile toxin by PCR orders placed within 7 days of the previous order will be rejected.

IDSA Clinical Practice Guidelines