An Apparent Excess of Operative Site Infections: Analyses to Evaluate False-Positive Diagnoses

Abstract

Documented OSI patients were found to have significantly more adverse findings and longer lengths of stay than presumptive OSI patients or controls. The similarity of findings for presumptive OSI patients and controls suggests that the apparent excess frequency of OSI was caused by incorrect diagnosis. Whereas doctor's diagnosis may be useful as an initial screen for OSI, use of objective criteria for confirming OSI may avert the consequences of overdiagnosis including excessive length of stay and unnecessary therapy, which lead to elevated healthcare costs and threaten a physician's practice.