title: Clostridium difficile epidemic outbreak in an oncology unit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Contributions to the knowledge of some peculiarities of C. difficile involvement in human pathology, nosocomial infections (NI) included.
  
  
  METHODS
  This clinico-epidemiological and laboratory study included 14 patients admitted to the Medical Clinic of the Iasi Regional Cancer Institute with the diagnosis of C. difficile NI based on detection of toxins A and B in stool samples. The data were assessed and interpreted using an algorithm which revealed the peculiarities of C. difficile NI outbreak occurrence and evolution.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 14 cases included in the study, 5 (35.8 %) had community-onset infections and 9 (64.3%) oncology unit-onset infections. The average hospital stay was 22 days. Immunocompromised condition and the use of antibiotics in the ciprofloxacin, colistin and cefotaxime group for 4 - 10 days were the main risk factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This epidemic C. difficile NI outbreak which affected immunocompromised patients with high susceptibility to infection, common finding in oncology care was brought under control by active preventive measures associated with concomitant antimicrobial therapy effective in C. difficile infections.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Miron
authors.forename: Raluca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Filimon
authors.forename: F D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Petrariu
authors.forename: Mioara Calipsoana
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Matei
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000032:analysis; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004768:Enterotoxins