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Clostridium difficile infections in nursing homes
Clostridium difficile infections in nursing homes
- Collection:
- Health Policy and Services Research
- Series Title(s):
- Pennsylvania patient safety advisory
- Contributor(s):
- Pennsylvania. Patient Safety Authority.
Institute for Safe Medication Practices.
ECRI (Organization) - Publication:
- [Harrisburg, Pa.] : Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority, c2010
- Language(s):
- English
- Format:
- Text
- Subject(s):
- Clostridium Infections -- prevention & control
Cross Infection -- prevention & control
Infection Control -- methods
Nursing Homes
Pennsylvania
United States - Genre(s):
- Technical Report
- Abstract:
- Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is rapidly becoming one of the most significant issues in healthcare. It remains the most common cause of diarrheal illness in institutionalized patients and residents, and healthcare workers are faced with many challenges relating to its identification, treatment, and transmission prevention. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project revealed that from 1993 to 2001 hospital discharges with CDI increased by 74%. This escalated from 2001 to 2005 to a 102% increase in discharges with CDI. CDI was a secondary diagnosis in most cases, particularly in the later years. While persons of any age are at risk for infection, the elderly are particularly susceptible and are at increased risk for adverse outcomes as a result of CDI. Mandatory reporting of healthcare-associated infections began in Pennsylvania nursing homes in June 2009. Preliminary data for the third quarter of 2009 showed that CDI accounted for almost 40% of overall gastrointestinal infections in nursing home patients statewide. Evidence-based risk reduction strategies are key to providing a safer healthcare facility environment when CDI is suspected or confirmed. These strategies include the infection prevention components of standard and contact precautions, environmental care, and judicious use of antibiotics.
- Copyright:
- Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. Further use of the material is subject to CC BY-NC-DC license. (More information)
- Illustrations:
- Illustrations
- NLM Unique ID:
- 101561900 (See catalog record)
- Permanent Link:
- http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/101561900