[Profile of microbiological analyses needed for hospitalized clients at the Maisonneuve-Rosemont hospital].

During five consecutive administrative periods, a computer data bank was set up from informations written on laboratory forms requesting tests in microbiology. A total of 13,260 forms were received and 11,591 were included in our study. 7,010 tests (60%) were requested from medical specialties; 40% of these tests were from patients admitted on hematology and on pediatrics wards. Of the 4,581 remaining tests, 36% were ordered for patients admitted on general surgery and on ophthalmology wards. Medical patients had three times as much blood cultures requested than surgical patients. The numbers of urine cultures done for medical and surgical patients were however similar (1,832 and 1,699 respectively). The average cost for microbiology cultures was twice as much in medical than in surgical patients. Such analysis of prescribing profile for laboratory tests provides useful information for the diagnosis related groups (DRG) system and can allow for a more efficient distribution of hospital resources.