title: The relationship between patient functional status and environmental contamination by Clostridium difficile: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Limited data exist on patient factors related to environmental contamination with Clostridium difficile.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the association between the functional status of patients with C. difficile infection (CDI) and environmental contamination with C. difficile.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Contamination of patient rooms was frequent and higher functional status was associated with contaminated surfaces remote from the bed. All but one environmental isolates matched the corresponding patient's stool isolate for the seven patients tested.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Functional status is a factor that influences environmental contamination with C. difficile. Future studies should evaluate strategies to reduce contamination in CDI patient rooms, taking into account the patient's functional status.
authors: Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin, 5221 MFCB, 1685 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA.
authors: Rebekah
authors: R
authors: Blakney
authors: Unnur
authors: U
authors: Gudnadottir
authors: Simone
authors: S
authors: Warrack
authors: John C
authors: JC
authors: O'Horo
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Anderson
authors: Ajay
authors: A
authors: Sethi
authors: Michelle
authors: M
authors: Schmitz
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Wang
authors: Megan
authors: M
authors: Duster
authors: Emma
authors: E
authors: Ide
authors: Nasia
authors: N
authors: Safdar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology*; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010362:Patients' Rooms; D010865:Pilot Projects