Chapter 13: Diagnostic tests
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Post‐procedural considerations
Immediate care
A faecal sample should be transported to the laboratory and processed as soon as possible because a number of important pathogens, such as Shigella spp., may not survive changes in pH and temperature once outside the body (PHE [184]). If there is an anticipated delay in dispatching the sample to the laboratory, it should be refrigerated at 4–8°C and processed within 12 hours (PHE [184]).
Ongoing care
The result of specimen analysis will determine the patient's ongoing care. The involvement of the microbiology and infection control teams is essential to ensure prudent and safe treatment and nursing care. This should include:
- effective hand‐washing techniques to minimize the transmission of organisms
- implementation of standard precautions (gloves and aprons)
- nursing of patients with unexpected or unexplained diarrhoea in isolation or cohorted with other infected patients
- thorough environmental decontamination
- prudent antibiotic prescribing (NHS England and NHSI [155]).
Education of the patient and relevant others
Patients should be provided with information and involved in their care as much as they choose to be (NMC [165]). Confirmation of an infection diagnosis should be relayed to patients and their families alongside information on management strategies (such as antibiotic therapy, the use of personal protective equipment, reasons for isolation and visiting restrictions). The provision of written information, such as leaflets, may also be useful.
