A study from North Carolina has uncovered racial disparities in healthcare-associated infection (HAI) testing, revealing that Black patients are tested less frequently than White patients, despite showing similar positivity rates. Conducted across three hospitals in the state, the research found that when accounting for the number of patient days specific to each race, Black patients had lower rates of testing for infections like Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), a common and potentially severe HAI.
The findings are significant as they suggest that Black patients may not be receiving the same level of surveillance for HAIs as their White counterparts, potentially impacting the management and outcomes of these infections. The study’s authors call for an urgent need to address these disparities to ensure equitable healthcare practices and improve infection control measures.
The research highlights the need for hospitals and healthcare systems to examine their testing protocols and ensure that all patients, regardless of race, are equally monitored for HAIs. This could lead to better identification and management of CDI cases among all racial groups, ultimately improving patient care and outcomes.
The study’s implications extend beyond the immediate healthcare settings, pointing to a systemic issue that requires attention from policymakers and healthcare leaders to rectify inequalities in medical testing and treatment. The institutions involved in the study have not been named in the provided information.
“Black Patients Receive Less HAI Testing Despite Similar Positivity Rates to White Patients” by Abigail Brooks on the Contagion Live website (January 15, 2024)
