Paul Galloway wrote
PA>In conjunction with the microbiology department at the Oxford Radcliffe
PA>Hospital, we have been auditing whether the use of urine dip-sticks
PA>(Multistix) affects our management of clinically suspected UTI's. The
PA>sensitivity and specificity of urine testing sticks such as Multistix 8SG
PA>and Nephurstix has been show to be very good in detecting urinary tract
PA>infections in a variety of patient populations, and so the hypothesis was
PA>that by using the test sticks it should be possible to reduce the high
PA>number of MSU's sent to the lab which are negative, reduce blind AB Rx,
PA>provide an immediate answer as to whether the patients urinary symptoms
PA>were due to UTI (and the implication that this should improve management).
PA>The cost equation driving this interest is that the laboratory costs of an
PA>MSU are about 3.50, whereas a dip-stick costs approximately 18p.
Who is paying for the dipstick? another free funding out of
a GPs pocket? :-(
______________________________________________________________
Dr. David Jobson
The Surgery, Main St Surgery Tel +44 (0)1728 830526
Leiston Surgery Fax 832029
* SLMR 2.1a *
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|