Clostridium difficile: preventing epidemic outbreaks in home health.
Clostridium difficile is not affected by alcohol-based hand rubs or most cleaning solutions. As a result, it spreads quickly and easily. Spores can survive for months on environmental surfaces. Epidemics of hypervirulent mutations in the United States, Canada, and Europe are causing life-threatening infections, with rising mortality rates. This article aims to teach home health clinicians what they need to know to protect patients, families, themselves, and the community beyond the patient's home.
Aperio Medical Legal Consultants, Front Royal, Virginia 22630, USA. marycvrtis@aperiomlc.com
Mary C
MC
Vrtis
D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000472:pathogenicity; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000382:microbiology; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology