Critical and Other Important Called Results, Microbiology

I. Priniciple: N.A.

II. Procedure:

Refer to the CLICS “Phoned/FAXed Result Documentation” procedure for documentation of all called results.

1. Critical Values Called Results:
Refer to “Critical Value Chart” for the protocol to follow for reporting critical values.

A. Positive Gram Stain or Methylene Blue Stain on any sterile fluid (CSF, pleural, pericardial, peritoneal, synovial).

B. Positive, Normally Sterile Fluid Culture (CSF, pleural, pericardial, peritoneal, synovial).

C. Positiive Blood Culture/Gram Stain and Dialysate Culture.

D. Positive Acid Fast Smear and/or Culture.

2. Important Called Results:

A. Positive Stool Culture: any enteric pathogen.

B. Positive Ova and Parasite: any parasite.

C. Giardia/Crypto Screen: positive results for either.

D. Chlamydia/GC Screen: positive results for either.

E. The following organisms for ANY culture:

a. Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

b. Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus (VRE)

c. Vancomycin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA)

d. Neisseria meningitidis (blood or CSF)

e. Multi-Drug Resistant Organism (MDRO):

1. Less than 3 susceptible antibiotics

2. ESBL positive organisms

3. Penicillin resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae

f. Coccidioides immitis

g. Histoplasma capsulatum

h. Cryptococcus neoformans

i. Blastomyces dermatitidis

j. Sporothrix schenckii

F. Respiratory Virus Panel

3. Client Requested Called Results
The following results are either called or FAXed as a service to our clients.

A. All Strep Screens to Medical Associates Pediatrics (East & West) and Acute Care (East & West).

B. All Urine Cultures to Medical Associates Pediatrics (East & West).

C. All Strep Screens to Dubuque Pediatrics.

D. All positive Urine Cultures to Dubuque Pediatrics.

E. All Strep Screens to Loras College and Clarke University.

F. All positive Strep Screens to Finley Employee Health.

G. All Vet Culture results.

 

i. 4-4-84 C. Harms/E. Steiner

ii. April 1990 C. Sullivan (Revised: documentation of phoned results added)

iii. August 1992 E. Steiner (Revised: II.7. added)

iv. January 2006 C. Brindle (Revised: remove RN from critical value reporting; II.3. Dialysate added; II. 4-6. pathologist removed; II.7. Rotavirus removed, II.7.B. removed MA Strep screens)

v. February 2011 D. Smothers (Revised: entire procedure)

 

Comprehensive Review:

Pathologist:

Technical Director:

 

Interim Review: March 2012 C. Pregler (Revised: India Ink removed; II.2.E.e.1-3.added)