Underutilization of norovirus testing in hematopoietic cell transplant recipients at a large cancer center.
MacAllister, Trenton J. MS, MPH a, b; Stednick, Zach MPH a; Golob, Jonathan L. MD, PhD a, c; Huang, Meei-Li PhD d; Pergam, Steven A. MD, MPH a, b, c, *
[Report] AJIC: American Journal of Infection Control. 46(1):100-102, January 2018.

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Highlights:

* Testing patterns and incidence of norovirus are analyzed in transplant recipients.

* Norovirus testing is infrequently used despite clear seasonal variation.

* Targeted educational programs to enhance norovirus testing are needed.

: The development of a new laboratory-developed norovirus assay provided an opportunity to assess testing patterns, incidence, and outcomes of norovirus among hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients. Clostridium difficile and norovirus tests from 1,393 HCT recipients were compared in these analyses. In this population of high-risk patients, norovirus appeared to occur seasonally, but testing was infrequent despite a correlation with more severe disease when compared with patients with C difficile infection.

Copyright (C) 2018 by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc.