Immediate Action Necessary to Control C. Diff Infection

As the incidence of Clostridium difficile (C. diff) infection spirals, physicians should emphasize the importance of antibiotic stewardship.

A study published in the journal affiliated with the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) summarized a recent NFID webinar by Carolyn V. Gould, MD, and L. Clifford McDonald, MD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Thomas M. File, Jr., MD, Editor-in-Chief, Infectious Diseases in Clinical Practice.

While C. diff is mainly a significant hospital-acquired infection, recently approximately 5% of C. diff cases are diagnosed outside hospitals.

Since prior antibiotic treatment is the primary risk factor for C. diff, antibiotic stewardship is considered a key factor in controlling significant spikes in incidences.

Antibiotics are capable of disrupting intestinal balance, thereby creating the opportunity for C. diff spores to produce diarrhea-causing toxins.

According to the CDC, there are six essential methods to consider for C. diff prevention:

· Careful prescribing and use of antibiotics

· Early and reliable diagnosis

· Immediate isolation of infected patients

· Contact precautions — wearing gloves and gowns for all contact with the patient and patient-care environment

· Adequately cleaning patient care environments; using an EPA-registered C. diff sporicidal disinfectant

· Effective communication about C. diff status when patients are transferred between healthcare facilities

“The current epidemiology of CDI necessitates active participation from all segment of the healthcare community in a comprehensive approach to reduce the burden of CDI through effective antibiotic stewardship and active measures to reduce spore transmission,” concluded Gould, McDonald, and File.