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An Outbreak of Severe Clostridium difficile–Associated Disease Possibly Related to Inappropriate Antimicrobial Therapy for Community-Acquired Pneumonia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Philip M. Polgreen ,
Yi Yi Chen ,
Joseph E. Cavanaugh ,
Melissa Ward ,
Stacy Coffman ,
Douglas B. Hornick ,
Daniel J. Diekema  and
Loreen A. Herwaldt
Philip M. Polgreen*
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City Departments of Epidemiology, Iowa City
Yi Yi Chen
Affiliation:
Biostatistics, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City
Joseph E. Cavanaugh
Affiliation:
Biostatistics, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City
Melissa Ward
Affiliation:
Program of Hospital Epidemiology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City
Stacy Coffman
Affiliation:
Program of Hospital Epidemiology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City
Douglas B. Hornick
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City
Daniel J. Diekema
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City Program of Hospital Epidemiology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City
Loreen A. Herwaldt
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City Departments of Epidemiology, Iowa City Program of Hospital Epidemiology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City
*
University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, 200 Hawkins Dr., Iowa City, IA 52242 (philip-polgreen@uiowa.edu)
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Abstract

We report a severe outbreak of Clostridium difficile infection. According to a chart review, half of the patients who received treatment for bacterial pneumonia before they developed C. difficile infection may not have had pneumonia. Excessive use of the hospital's new pneumonia care plan during the influenza season may have contributed to the intensity of this outbreak.

Type
Concise Communication
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 28 , Issue 2 , February 2007 , pp. 212 - 214
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2007

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References

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