Reduction in total patient isolation days with a change in influenza testing methodology

Abstract

Background: Both hospital admissions and patient isolation increase during influenza season. Influenza testing methodologies that reduce turnaround time (TAT) could reduce time in isolation.

Methods: We assessed the impact of a new influenza test on TAT and isolation days. TAT and daily mean isolation days were compared at a single hospital over 2 influenza seasons. An automated real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction assay (rRT-PCR) with random access replaced a conventional rRT-PCR assay for the second influenza season. Automation and random access allowed continuous testing, rather than once daily testing 3-5 d/wk.

Results: Confirmed influenza cases (57 vs 68) and total patient days (66,308 vs. 66,366) were similar for the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 influenza seasons. TAT fell from 35 to 3.6 hours. Daily mean isolation days (32.9 vs 27.7, P < .01) fell, as did days in contact precautions (25.0 vs 19.8, P < .01) and droplet precautions (6.0 vs 3.5, P < .01). Although daily mean droplet precaution days for confirmed influenza rose slightly (0.86 vs 1.1, P = .16), droplet precaution days for suspected influenza fell 85% (2.7 vs 0.41, P < .001).

Conclusions: Influenza testing technology that reduced TAT from days to hours resulted in a 42% reduction in droplet precaution days and reduced overall isolation days during influenza season.

Keywords: Real-time polymerase chain reaction; rapid testing.