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Updated: May 9, 2026
11:13
Culturing and Maintaining Clostridium difficile in an Anaerobic Environment
Published on: September 14, 2013
Clostridium difficile Associated Disease in a Neurointensive Care Unit
Swagata Tripathy1, Priya Nair, Michael Rothburn
1Department of Trauma and Emergency Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences , Bhubaneswar , India.
Frontiers in Neurology
|July 13, 2013
Summary
The prevalence of Clostridium difficile associated disease (CDAD) in neurointensive care units is low at 0.4%. While morbidity was minimal, further research is needed to identify risk factors and the impact of delayed discharge.
Area of Science:
- Critical Care Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Critically ill patients face a high risk of Clostridium difficile infection.
- Neurointensive care units (NICUs) present a unique environment for healthcare-associated infections.
- Understanding Clostridium difficile associated disease (CDAD) in NICU populations is crucial for patient safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of CDAD in a neurointensive care unit.
- To assess the severity and outcomes of NICU-acquired CDAD.
- To identify potential risk factors associated with CDAD in this patient subgroup.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of intensive care admission and infection control databases (April 2008 - August 2010).
- Classification of diarrhea severity (mild, moderate, severe).
- Collection of demographic data, risk factors, clinical presentation, and disease course.
Main Results:
- A prevalence rate of 0.4% (9/2212 patients) for CDAD was observed.
- The median NICU stay was 26 days, with CDAD developing a median of 11 days post-admission.
- Concurrent infections (77%) and prior cephalosporin use (71%) were common; no mortality was attributed to CDAD.
Conclusions:
- NICU-acquired CDAD has a low prevalence and morbidity.
- Larger studies are required to elucidate specific risk factors in this population.
- Delayed ICU discharge due to CDAD warrants further investigation.
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