TY - JOUR
T1 - The Importance of Colonization with Clostridium difficile on Infection and Transmission
AU - Morgan, Daniel J.
AU - Leekha, Surbhi
AU - Croft, Lindsay
AU - Burnham, Carey Ann D.
AU - Johnson, J. Kristie
AU - Pineles, Lisa
AU - Harris, Anthony D.
AU - Dubberke, Erik R.
PY - 2015/9/6
Y1 - 2015/9/6
N2 - Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) are the most common cause of healthcare-associated infections (HAI) in the USA, accounting for 12 % of all HAIs [1]. Reasons for such an increase are unknown but may relate to antibiotic use and evolution of a new, pathogenic strain, NAP1/BI/027. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies C. difficile as one of only three organisms to be assigned a designation of an “urgent” threat level. Asymptomatic colonization with C. difficile is much more common than symptomatic CDI and has been documented to contribute to new cases of CDI. Despite this knowledge, approaches to managing and preventing transmission from asymptomatically colonized patients are lacking. Enhanced cleaning, avoidance of unnecessary antimicrobials, and use of gowns and gloves for patients with CDI are the cornerstone of C. difficile management in patients with known disease. Infection control interventions to prevent transmission from asymptomatically colonized patients have not been determined.
AB - Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) are the most common cause of healthcare-associated infections (HAI) in the USA, accounting for 12 % of all HAIs [1]. Reasons for such an increase are unknown but may relate to antibiotic use and evolution of a new, pathogenic strain, NAP1/BI/027. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies C. difficile as one of only three organisms to be assigned a designation of an “urgent” threat level. Asymptomatic colonization with C. difficile is much more common than symptomatic CDI and has been documented to contribute to new cases of CDI. Despite this knowledge, approaches to managing and preventing transmission from asymptomatically colonized patients are lacking. Enhanced cleaning, avoidance of unnecessary antimicrobials, and use of gowns and gloves for patients with CDI are the cornerstone of C. difficile management in patients with known disease. Infection control interventions to prevent transmission from asymptomatically colonized patients have not been determined.
KW - CDI
KW - Clostridium difficile infections
KW - HAI
KW - Healthcare-associated infections
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84938563241&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11908-015-0499-0
DO - 10.1007/s11908-015-0499-0
M3 - Review article
C2 - 26239132
AN - SCOPUS:84938563241
SN - 1523-3847
VL - 17
JO - Current Infectious Disease Reports
JF - Current Infectious Disease Reports
IS - 9
M1 - 43
ER -