Using expert process to combat Clostridium difficile infections.

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Rising Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) rates in Ontario, Canada, prompted mandatory public reporting of infection rates by hospitals in 2008.
• The need for external support for hospitals experiencing ongoing CDI outbreaks led to the development of a specialized resource team.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the function and operational process of the external infection control resource team (ICRT).
• To review the key lessons learned from the ICRT's first five years of managing CDI outbreaks.
• To provide guidance for other hospitals in managing their infection prevention and control (IPC) outbreaks.

Main Methods:

• The article details the establishment and management of the ICRT by Public Health Ontario.
• It outlines the ICRT's role in assisting hospitals with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) outbreaks.
• A review of operational data and experiences from the first five years of the ICRT's activity.

Main Results:

• The ICRT provided essential external support to hospitals facing significant CDI challenges.
• The program facilitated the sharing of expertise and resources for infection control.
• Over five years, valuable insights into effective outbreak management strategies were gained.

Conclusions:

• The external infection control resource team (ICRT) model is an effective strategy for supporting hospitals during Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) outbreaks.
• Lessons learned from the Ontario experience can inform the development and implementation of similar support systems in other regions.
• Proactive and collaborative approaches to infection prevention and control are crucial for managing widespread outbreaks.