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Clostridium difficile in the intensive care unit: management problems and prevention issues.
1Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis, Medical Center, Sacramento 95817.
Critical Care Medicine
|August 1, 1989
Summary
A Clostridium difficile outbreak occurred in a medical ICU, with seven cases clustered in two weeks. This highlights the need for increased awareness and preventive measures against C. difficile infections in ICUs.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Critical Care Medicine
- Hospital Epidemiology
Background:
- Clostridium difficile associated colitis is a significant healthcare-associated infection.
- Intensive Care Units (ICUs) are vulnerable settings for outbreaks due to patient acuity and potential for transmission.
Observation:
- Eight cases of C. difficile associated colitis were identified in a 12-bed medical ICU.
- Seven cases were clustered geographically and temporally within a two-week period.
- One patient contracted C. difficile post-hospitalization without typical risk factors like antibiotic use.
Findings:
- The outbreak demonstrated a high incidence of C. difficile infections within the ICU.
- Nosocomial transmission is a likely factor contributing to the observed cluster.
- Standard risk factors may not account for all cases of C. difficile in the ICU.
Implications:
- Heightened awareness of C. difficile risk factors and transmission is crucial for ICUs.
- Prompt investigation of C. difficile cases within an ICU is necessary to control potential outbreaks.
- Implementing targeted preventive measures can help mitigate future C. difficile clusters in critical care settings.