Clinical Microbiology: Diagnostic Standards of Care

by Charles Stratton, Michael Laposata (Editor)

Overview

About the

Diagnostic Standards of Care Series

A key issue for every laboratory and individual laboratory practitioner is the assessment of risk and a current working knowledge of the standards of care established for diagnostic testing via guidelines, major studies and trials. The Diagnostic Standards of Care series presents an overview of the key diagnoses in clinical pathology using case examples to illustrate effective analysis of the case in light of current evidence and standards for the problem discussed. In addition to being practical diagnostic guides, these volumes will have a unique emphasis on quality assurance and evidence-based testing practices and the role of the pathologist in ensuring quality and patient safety.

Clinical Microbiology addresses common medical errors seen in the clinical microbiology laboratory in order to show these errors to pathologists and laboratory technicians as well as clinicians. The goal is to allow such errors to be corrected by both individual effort and a systems approach in the laboratory. The book addresses potential medical errors in test ordering and specimen collection, testing in the laboratory, and reporting and interpretation of test results. Each of these phases can have an adverse impact on the diagnosis and treatment of an infectious disease if a medical error occurs. Potential medical errors are described and discussed in a clinical case-based learning format to effectively illustrate the conditions that contribute to these errors and enable the reader to recognize and avoid them in daily practice.

Clinical Microbiology Features

• Descriptions of potential errors in test ordering and specimen collection in clinical microbiology
• Descriptions of potential errors in test performance in clinical microbiology
• Descriptions of potential errors in test reporting and interpretation in clinical microbiology
• Clinical case discussions provide "real world" illustrations of potential errors and how to anticipate and avoid them in practice
• Is pocket-sized for portability

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781617050480
Publisher:	Springer Publishing Company
Publication date:	07/10/2011
Series:	Diagnostic Standards of Care
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	164
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Edward and Nancy Fody Professor and Executive Vice Chair of Pathology, Professor of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Hospital

Table of Contents

Series Foreword; Preface; 1 Preanalytic Errors in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory; 2 Analytic Errors in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory; 3 Postanalytic Errors in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory; 4 Summary and Thoughts for Future Direction; References; Index

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Valerie L. Ng, PhD MD(Alameda County Medical Center/Highland Hospital)
Description: This second volume in the Diagnostic Standards of Care series focuses on clinical microbiology.
Purpose: The purpose of the series is to educate readers about commonly encountered errors in ordering clinical laboratory tests or interpreting results, and thereby how to avoid related adverse patient outcomes. This book focuses on errors involving the clinical microbiology laboratory.
Audience: This book was written for anyone involved with clinical laboratory testing — from those who order and use test results for patient management, to those who produce results, to healthcare administrators who want to gain an understanding of how incorrect use of the clinical laboratory contributes to adverse patient outcomes, operational inefficiencies, and increased costs. The author is a well-respected and internationally renowned clinical microbiologist.
Features: This seemingly small paperback packs a wallop with information — direct and right to the point — on how common errors contribute to adverse patient outcomes. The format is identical to its precursor (which focused on errors related to coagulation testing), lending a nice sense of continuity. This book is divided into errors occurring at the common points in laboratory testing — preanalytical, analytical and postanalytical. Ironically, the largest section focuses on preanalytical error. Illustrative cases of errors or averted errors (some chilling) are presented. The final chapter discusses a solution used by the author — the "diagnostic management team" — to proactively prevent these common errors. What I really like about this book are the crystal-clear, riveting case presentations and tight linkage with error identification. Another very valuable piece is the summary at the end of each chapter, "Standards of care," that are pearls of wisdom. The only weakness of this book is that it leaves readers wanting more, but more would defeat the hard-hitting impact the book has that is attributable to its very terseness and conciseness.
Assessment: Great book. Get it. For that matter, get the series.

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