title: Reduction in the incidence of hospital-acquired Clostridium difficile infection through infection control interventions other than the restriction of antimicrobial use.
abstract: A combination of infection control interventions, consisting of education, isolation, hand hygiene, contact precautions, and environmental disinfection, was implemented in the medical intensive care unit (MICU). The strict restriction of the use of antimicrobial agents was not included in this study. Following the interventions, the incidence of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in the MICU decreased significantly, by 67%, from 4.70 to 1.53 cases/1000 patient days (p = 0.012), while the hospital-wide incidence of CDI increased significantly from 0.93 to 1.17 cases/1000 patient-days (p = 0.021). A multifaceted approach to minimize C. difficile exposure can be effective in reducing the incidence of hospital-acquired CDI under conditions that do not allow for a restriction in the use of antimicrobial agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection Control, Wonkwang University Hospital, Iksan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eunsung
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: You
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Wonkwang University College of Medicine, 344-2, Sinyong-dong, Iksan, 570-749, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyoyeop
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Wonkwang University College of Medicine, Iksan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jihyun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Wonkwang University College of Medicine, 344-2, Sinyong-dong, Iksan, 570-749, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: john7026@wku.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jaehoon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D005260:Female; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D063373:Hand Hygiene; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017053:Infection Control; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056910:Republic of Korea
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents
keywords: Clostridium difficile; Incidence; Infection prevention and control programs