Infection control measures to limit the spread of Clostridium difficileArchived
Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is an intestinal infection usually acquired in hospital settings, after antibiotic treatment. The clinical spectrum of CDI ranges from mild diarrhoea to severe life-threatening pseudomembranous colitis. In the recent years, an increased incidence of CDI has been reported in Europe and worldwide.
Vonberg R-P, Kuijper EJ, Wilcox MH, Barbut F, Tüll P, Gastmeier P, on behalf of the European C. difficile-Infection Control Group and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), van den Broek PJ, Colville A, Coignard B, Daha T, Debast S, Duerden BI, van den Hof S, van der Kooi T, Maarleveld HJH, Nagy E, Notermans DW, O’Driscoll J, Patel B, Stone S, Wiuff C.
Clin Microbiol Infect. 2008 May;14 Suppl 5:2-20.
Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is an intestinal infection usually acquired in hospital settings, after antibiotic treatment. The clinical spectrum of CDI ranges from mild diarrhoea to severe life-threatening pseudomembranous colitis. In the recent years, an increased incidence of CDI has been reported in Europe and worldwide.
Based on a systematic review of the literature, the authors describe how the immediate implementation of appropriate infection control measures can limit and prevent the spread of C. difficile within a hospital or another healthcare setting. Moreover, the authors propose evidence-based recommendations to limit the spread of C. difficile in healthcare settings, i.e. early diagnosis of CDI, surveillance of CDI cases, education of the hospital and cleaning personnel as well as patients and visitors, appropriate use of isolation precautions, hand hygiene, protective clothing, environmental cleaning and cleaning of the medical equipment, responsible antibiotic therapy and specific measures during outbreaks.
ECDC comment: The authors, on behalf of the European C. difficile Infection Control Group and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), recommend using this evidence-based guidance document to produce or revise current local and national protocols for the control of CDI.