A PCR-based diagnostic testing strategy to identify carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae carriers upon admission to UK hospitals: early economic modelling to assess costs and consequences.

This economic analysis gives an insight into the potential cost savings that could be made by the UK NHS through the introduction of a PCR-based diagnostic testing strategy to replace current recommended culture-based methods for the detection of CPE. Savings are due primarily to a faster time to result with PCR, meaning that CPE-free patients are not isolated unnecessarily. Therefore, a PCR-based diagnostic may aid appropriate use of isolation resource.