An outbreak of severe Clostridium difficile-associated disease possibly related to inappropriate antimicrobial therapy for community-acquired pneumonia.
We report a severe outbreak of Clostridium difficile infection. According to a chart review, half of the patients who received treatment for bacterial pneumonia before they developed C. difficile infection may not have had pneumonia. Excessive use of the hospital's new pneumonia care plan during the influenza season may have contributed to the intensity of this outbreak.
Polgreen
Philip M
PM
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. philip-polgreen@uiowa.edu
Chen
Yi Yi
YY
Cavanaugh
Joseph E
JE
Ward
Melissa
M
Coffman
Stacy
S
Hornick
Douglas B
DB
Diekema
Daniel J
DJ
Herwaldt
Loreen A
LA
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016360:Clostridioides difficile; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents