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[Nosocomial epidemiology and transmission of Clostridium difficile infection]
T Grünewald1, S Frenzel, M Decker
12. Klinik für Innere Medizin, Klinikum St. Georg Leipzig.
Background:
Clostridium difficile is of growing importance as a hospital-acquired pathogen. Pseudomembraneous colitis is the main clinical disease. Transmission and epidemiological features are not yet fully understood.
Patients And Methods:
Stool samples from 1164 individuals (571 women and 593 men) attending were examined for the presence of C. difficile. Follow-up examinations and molecular typing methods were used for the detection nosocomial transmissions. Additionally, hospital-borne environmental samples as well as staff samples were tested.
Results:
Incidence of C. difficile infection was 8.4%. Nearly all patients (92.9%) had antibiotics given. Using molecular typing nosocomial transmission was evident. Though, environmental samples in general had a low positivity, toilet chairs were contaminated in 15.4% and may be a potential source of transmission. Staff was positive in only one case.
Conclusions:
Prevention of infections with C. difficile becomes to be a major threat for the clinical and hygienic management.