## Form M - entering CDI microbiological data

Only the Enhanced surveillance option supports recording microbiological data – the Minimal and Light options do not support this.

If you are working in the Enhanced option, the Enter form M data button is displayed at the bottom of Form C, part 2.

To enter microbiological data:

1. Click Enter form M data in Form C.

Form M opens.

2. Enter the microbiological data. The fields are described in Table 10.

Descriptions of the variables in Form H are given in Table 10. Mandatory fields are indicated by a red asterisk *. Required fields are indicated by a black asterisk *.

3. Click the Save icon or press Ctrl+S.

If any mandatory or required data field is empty when you save, e.g. because you do not yet have the data, an error and/or warning message is shown and the field label is highlighted as a reminder - in red for a mandatory field (you cannot save) or blue for a required field. See Understanding reported errors.

You can now see the Form M data listed in the Microbiological data tab (click Refresh).

Table 10: CDI Form M variables

Variable | Description
Hospital code | The hospital identifier/code for the hospital selected for the survey.
CDI surveillance option | Minimal, Light or Enhanced. From Form H.
Surveillance period from | The start date for the survey. From Form H.
To | The end date for the survey. From Form H. The field is blank if the end date has not yet been defined for this survey.
Patient counter | System assigned sequential patient number for anonymised identification. In Enhanced surveillance the counter links patient data with microbiological typing/susceptibility data.
Internal patient code | From Form C. Must be removed from any data submitted to ECDC/TESSy.
Sex | From Form C.
Age in year(s) | From Form C.
Date of onset of CDI symptoms | From Form C.
CDI episode number | System assigned sequential number for identification.
Ward name/unit ID | From Form C.
Patient/consultant specialty | From Form C.
Date of hospital admission | From Form C.
Sample counter | System assigned sequential number for identification. Assigned when Form M is created.
Network ID | Unique identifier for each surveillance network within a Member State, selected and generated by the Member State, e.g. for UK, EN, NI, SC or WA; for France, different CClin networks. This field is combined with the hospital identifier to create a unique hospital code, because different networks within one Member State may use the same hospital code. Can be omitted if the hospital identifiers are unique within the reporting Member State.
Laboratory code * | Local laboratory identifier/code assigned by national/regional CDI surveillance coordinating centre. For the primary laboratory responsible for microbiological confirmation of the CDI (not the code of the national/reference laboratory). It is recommended to use the same laboratory codes as in EARS-Net. Required for data export.
Sample date | Date on which the first positive diagnostic stool sample was taken from the patient referred to in this form, if available. Otherwise, the date the stool sample was taken resulting in the results referred to in this form.
Typing performed by a national/ regional reference laboratory | Typing of C. difficile isolates performed by a laboratory that provides diagnostic, analytical and advisory services to other laboratories, nationally or sub-nationally.
PCR ribotype of C. difficile isolate | C. difficile PCR ribotype as determined by conventional gel-electrophoresis or capillary-based PCR ribotyping.
Method used to acquire ribotype | Method used to acquire PCR ribotype information, e.g. capillary-based PCR ribotyping; conventional gel-electrophoresis.
If other | Other method used to acquire PCR ribotype (please specify, e.g. whole genome sequencing).
Production of toxins A and/or B | Production of toxins A and/or B as determined by PCR of tcdA and tcdB or by EIA for TcdA and TcdB.
Production of binary toxin genes | Production of binary toxin (CDT) as determined by PCR of cdtA and cdtB
Antimicrobial susceptibility testing performed by … reference laboratory | Testing of C. difficile isolates for their susceptibility to antimicrobial agents performed by a laboratory that provides diagnostic, analytical and advisory services to other laboratories, nationally or sub-nationally. Yes/No/Test not performed/Unknown.
Antimicrobial susceptibility testing | For the relevant antimicrobial: 1. Enter the MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) in mg/l. 2. Select the method used for the determination of the MIC from the drop-down list. If Other is selected, then the free-text field to the right of the list is enabled – enter a description of the method used. Max. 255 characters. 3. Select the interpretation S, I or R, i.e. susceptible, intermediate or resistant.

Printing Form M

You might require to print a patient’s microbiological data in order to send it to a laboratory, for example.

To do this, click Print form M at the bottom of the form.

The patient’s microbiological data is entered into the hardcopy template and displayed in a pop-up window.

Controls at the top of the pop-up allow for basic document management:

| Print.
| Print layout.
| Page setup – paper size, paper source, orientation, margins.
| Export to Excel, PDF or Word.
| Zoom. The default view is whole page, but you can zoom to improve legibility.

More:

Microbiological data User tab

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© European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, 2016
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