The advantages of molecular diagnostics in the surveillance of health care-associated infections

Health care-associated infections (HAIs) result in extensive morbidity and mortality. Studies indicate that placing a colonized or infected patient into contact isolation curtails the spread of infection. Carriers are detected by surveillance techniques such as bacterial culture or real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Health care institutions rely on these laboratory results to identify patients requiring contact isolation; therefore, the rapid generation of accurate laboratory results is critical to the success of HAI surveillance.