Análisis de la demanda de pruebas microbiológicas en el área sanitaria sur de Lugoinfluencia del nivel asistencial y del servicio peticionario

Abstract

Background: The aim of this work is to study the influence of the health care level and of the health centre and petitioner service on the demand for microbiological tests. Material and methods: The computer system of the central laboratory and the annual report of the Regional Hospital of Monforte were used as sources of information for this study. Results: The percentage of requests made to the laboratory that contained microbiological tests was higher in primary than in specialized care (31.9% vs 23.8%). We found significant differences in the rates of requests for non-serological microbiological tests between the different primary care health centres, which ranged between a maximum rate of 294� and a minimal rate of 54�. Rates of serology requests were similar between for the different health centres. Nevertheless, there were significant differences between the health centres in the percentage of positive urine cultures. In specialized care there were significant differences between the different services in the rates of requests of both non-serological and serological microbiological tests and the intensity of use of the microbiological tests in hospitalized patients was associated with the average weight of the DRG (diagnosis related group) related to infectious diseases. Conclusions: There are differences in the use of microbiological tests both between health care levels (primary or specialized care) and between primary care health centres or specialized care services. The differences between primary care health centres might be due to factors unrelated to the needs of health of the population.