Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-lnqnp Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-29T10:44:00.665Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Potential for Transmission of Spores by Patients Awaiting Laboratory Testing to Confirm Suspected Clostridium difficile Infection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Venkata C. K. Sunkesula*
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Division, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio
Sirisha Kundrapu
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Division, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio
Lucy A. Jury
Affiliation:
Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
Abhishek Deshpande
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Division, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio
Ajay K. Sethi
Affiliation:
Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
Curtis J. Donskey
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Division, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
*
Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Cleveland VA Medical Center, 10701 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44106 (curtisdl23@yahoo.com)

Abstract

In a prospective study of inpatients tested for Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), skin and environmental contamination were common at the time of the order for CDI testing, and there were often delays in completion of testing. Preemptive isolation of patients with suspected CDI may reduce the risk of transmission.

Type
Concise Communication
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2013

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Cohen, SH, Gerding, DN, Johnson, S, et al. Clinical practice guidelines for Clostridium difficile infection in adults: 2010 update by the society for healthcare epidemiology of America (SHEA) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2010;31:431455.Google Scholar
2. Dubberke, ER, Gerding, DN, Classen, D, et al. Strategies to prevent Clostridium difficile infections in acute care hospitals. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2008;29(suppl 1):S81S92.Google Scholar
3. Guerrero, DM, Nerandzic, MM, Jury, LA, Jinno, S, Chang, S, Dons-key, CJ. Acquisition of spores on gloved hands after contact with the skin of patients with Clostridium difficile infection and with environmental surfaces in their rooms. Am J Infect Control 2012; 40(6):556558.Google Scholar
4. Nerandzic, MM, Donskey, CJ. Effective and reduced-cost modified selective medium for isolation of Clostridium difficile , J Clin Microbiol 2009;47:397400.Google Scholar
5. Scheurer, D. Diagnostic and treatment delays in recurrent Clostridium difficile-associated disease. J Hosp Med 2008;3:156159.Google Scholar
6. Guerrero, DM, Nerandzic, MM, Jury, LA, Chang, S, Jump, RL, Donskey, CJ. Clostridium difficile infection in a Department of Veterans Affairs long-term care facility. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2011;32:513515.Google Scholar
7. Abad, C, Fearday, A, Safdar, N. Adverse effects of isolation in hospitalised patients: a systematic review. J Hosp Infect 2010;76: 97102.Google Scholar
8. Morgan, DJ, Diekema, DJ, Sepkowitz, K, Perencevich, EN. Adverse outcomes associated with contact precautions: a review of the literature. Am I Infect Control 2009;37:8593.Google Scholar
9. Sethi, AK, Al-Nassir, WN, Nerandzic, MM, Bobulsky, GS, Donskey, CJ. Persistence of skin contamination and environmental shedding of Clostridium difficile during and after treatment of C. difficile infection. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2010;31:2127.Google Scholar