title: Enhancing patient safety through the management of Clostridium difficile at Toronto East General Hospital.
abstract: In 2005 Toronto East General Hospital experienced a steady increase in the number of C. difficile cases diagnosed within the hospital. This was identified as a patient safety issue, and several areas of the hospital came together to address the problem. Pharmacy immediately started a medication review of past cases. Environmental services took the lead on the environmental cleaning, and a process was put into place with Infection Control so that housekeeping knew of every room that contained a patient with C. difficile and enhanced cleaning could be practised. Staff, including nursing, housekeeping and porters, were educated on C. difficile and the methods of transmission. A business case was developed for a disposable bedpan system, and this was approved by the senior team. A new washable product was tried out with success for the overhead patient light pulls and bathroom call bell systems. Infection rates were shared with staff through a variety of venues. As a result of the initiatives, the hospital has seen a decrease of 50% in the rates of C. difficile. A bonus was that our MRSA rates dropped as well.
authors.affiliation: Infection Control and Occupational Health and Safety, Toronto East General Hospital. atomi@tegh.on.ca
authors.forename: Arladeen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tomiczek
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stumpo
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Downey
mesh_terms: D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000517:prevention & control; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration*