The Association for Professionals in Infection Control (APIC) has released a comprehensive prevalence survey on the state of Cdiff in US healthcare facilities (from 648 facilities in 47 states) (link). They found 13 / 1000 inpatients were infected or colonized with Cdiff (94% infected). Over half (54%) were detected in <48 hours of admission (indicating infection at the time of admission), 20% had no history of antibiotic exposure (and 17% only exposed to surgical prophylactic antibiotics), and over half (53%) still had diarrhea after 6 days of treatment. This prevalence survey reminds us to be vigilant for Cdiff in all inpatients with diarrhea (with or without a history of antibiotic use), and to be patient with its treatment course (over half still with symptoms at 6 days).
|
November 20, 2008 |
1 
Share This Post
One Comment
Leave A Comment
About the Author: Danielle Scheurer
Danielle Scheurer, MD, MSCR, SFHM is a clinical hospitalist and the Chief Quality Officer at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina, where she also serves as Assistant Professor of Medicine. She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, completed her residency at Duke University, and completed her Masters in Clinical Research at the Medical University of South Carolina. She is also the President of SHM's Board of Directors and previously served as Physician Editor of The Hospitalist, SHM's monthly newsmagazine.
Categories
Related Posts
November 8, 2019 |
0Do you have a stack of journals piling up on your desk, beside your bed or in your email inbox? In 1950, medical knowledge was estimated to double every 50 years, but now the doubling time is every few months. At this rate, it is impossible to keep up with the literature, but a group […]
June 29, 2013 |
0This large systematic review found rectal NSAIDs significantly reduced the risk of post-ERCP pancreatitis compared to pancreatic duct stents (abstract).
June 22, 2013 |
0This large population-based cohort found the most common causes of drug induced liver injury to be augmentin and diclofenac, followed by herbal and nutritional supplements (abstract).
How much of this is related to indiscriminate use of Antibiotics? How much of this is related to unfounded use of PPI for GI prophylaxis in non critical patients?