Table 3.
Performance of proxy indicators in identifying patients with HAIs as determined by the ET (N=340). PPV = positive predictive value. NPV = negative predictive value. HAI = healthcare-associated infection.
| Indicator | HAI Present | No HAI | Total | Sensitivity (95% CI) | Specificity (95% CI) | PPV (95% CI) | NPV (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White blood cell count abnormalitya | |||||||
| Yes | 11 | 75 | 86 | 52.4 (29.8–74.3) | 72.8 (67.2–78.0) | 12.8 (6.6–21.7) | 95.3 (91.5–97.7) |
| No | 10 | 201 | 211 | ||||
| Missing | 1 | 42 | 43 | ||||
| Temperature abnormalityb | |||||||
| Yes | 3 | 19 | 23 | 13.6 (2.9–34.9) | 93.7 (90.4–96.1) | 13.0 (2.8–33.6) | 94.0 (90.7–96.3) |
| No | 19 | 296 | 315 | ||||
| Missing | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||||
| Antimicrobial therapyc | |||||||
| Yes | 21 | 118 | 139 | 95.5 (77.2–99.9) | 62.8 (57.2–68.1) | 15.1 (9.6–22.2) | 99.5 (97.3–100) |
| No | 1 | 199 | 200 | ||||
| Missing | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||||
a
White blood cell count <4,000 cells/mm3 or ≥12,000 cells/mm3 (≥15,000 cells/mm3 for infants ≤1 year) on the survey date or the calendar day prior to the survey date.
b
Temperature >38°C (all ages) or <36°C (infants ≤1 year) on the survey date or the calendar day prior to the survey date.
c
On the survey date or the calendar day prior to the survey date.