Table 2. Time Difference Between the Groups After Implementation of MALDI-ToF and Short-Incubation Identification.
| Conventional identification vs. MALDI-TOF identification (2012–2013) | MALDI-TOF identification vs. SIMI (2013–2014) | SIMI vs Conventional identification (2012–2014) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average change | Δhours | P, (median2012,2013; U) | Δhours | P, (median2013,2014; U) | Δhours | P, (median2012,2014; U) |
| Time to initiate antibiotics | 0.13 | 0.43, (8.23, 10.05; 447) | 5.25 | 0.19, (10.05, 6.57; 423) | 5.38 | 0.14, (8.23, 6.57; 161) |
| Time to Gram stain result | 2.33 | 0.22, (26.94, 22.23; 677) | 2.08 | 0.22, (22.23, 22.15; 392) | 4.41 | 0.14 (26.94, 22.15; 403) |
| Time to initial identification | 21.03 | 1.95E-05, (70.17, 47.47; 291) | 17.75 | 2.48E-3, (47.47, 32.93; 230) | 38.78 | 7.46E-07, (70.17, 32.93; 128) |
| Time to final identification | 11.54 | 0.01, (84.67, 70.3; 495) | 5.17 | 0.4, (70.3, 68.13; 427) | 16.71 | 0.03, (84.67, 68.13; 331.5) |
| Time to antibiotic change | 9.56 | 0.19, (66.98, 79.5; 40) | 10.64 | 0.03, (79.5, 49.17; 35)_ | 20.2 | 0.14, (66.98, 49.17; 27) |
| Length of hospital stay in days, (hours) | 3.07 (73.68) | 0.50, (293.23, 280.00; 659) | 8.92 (214.08) | 0.14, (280, 273.62; 301) | 11.99 (288.00) | 0.10, (293.23, 273.62; 326) |
The impact on patient treatment are summarized to show how the implementation of the MALDI-ToF identification and the short incubation protocol effected different stages in the diagnostic and identification process of positive blood cultures.