Posts Tagged ‘C. DIFF’
Watch out: C. difficile about (and you may not know it)
There has been some recent discussion on whether we should implement screening for asymptomatic carriage of C. difficile. Whilst there is some evidence that cross-transmission of C. difficile from symptomatic cases is rare (in English hospitals, at least), a recent study shows that asymptomatic carriers are an important source of in-hospital transmission of C. difficile. The study was performed over 4 months in a Danish…
Read MoreDismiss hospital floors as a potential source of HCAI pathogens at your peril!
A multicentre US study has shown that hospital floors can be a source of pathogens that can cause HCAI. Floors were heavily contaminated, high-touch items were in frequent contact with floors, and hands became contaminated with hospital pathogens as a result of contact with these items. Anybody who dismissed hospital floors as a potential transmission risk are…
Read MoreC. difficile lurking in the laundry
A US study has found C. difficile spores in the hospital laundry. Whilst most of the spores were identified on the dirty side of the laundry, a small number of spores were also identified on the clean side of the laundry. The identification of C. difficile spores in both the clean and dirty hospital laundry could present a potential transmission risk.…
Read MoreHydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid: a new kid on the automated room decon block!
A number of automated room decontamination (ARD) systems are available. Most of the evidence relates to hydrogen peroxide based or UV based systems. A new study reports on the impressive efficacy of an ARD system combining hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid, achieving a 6-log reduction on bacterial endospores. There is plenty of evidence that ARD systems using ‘high concentration’…
Read MoreClinell UV360 Significantly Reduces Clostridium difficile Incidence
NEW YORK (October 6, 2016) – Ultraviolet C light disinfection to clean unoccupied patient rooms significantly reduced C. difficile infections (CDI) in high-risk patients who later occupied those rooms, according to a study published today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. The no-touch device, used after patients with CDI…
Read MoreSporicidal granules for high level disinfection
New evidence shows that flooring can be a reservoir for pathogens of significance in healthcare. Uses Peracetic Acid (PAA) Technology PAA generating products are now considered a suitable substitute in situations where 1,000 and 10,000 ppm of chlorine are recommended. Unique granule formulation Easily mixed within bespoke 1L and 2.5L jugs allowing quick and easy activation, avoiding dilution…
Read MoreAre UV and Hydrogen Peroxide automated room decon devices clinically effective?
A useful review by Weber et al. explores data from studies with a clinical outcome evaluating UV and hydrogen peroxide automated room (ARD) decon devices. There are now quite a few studies showing that admission to a room previously occupied by a patient with a pathogen associated with HCAI (including C. difficile, MRSA, VRE and others) increases the chances of…
Read MoreTransmission of C. difficile: Asymptomatic carriers are also a risk
A new paper from Canada that has examined the effect of screening and isolation for asymptomatic carriers of toxigenic C. difficile has just been released onto the JAMA Internal Medicine website. In this study, 4.8% of patients screened were found to be carrying the tbD gene and these patients were part of an intervention group that included isolation, but not in…
Read MoreWhich strategy is most cost-effective in preventing the transmission of C. difficile?
As resources become more and more constrained in healthcare facilities around the world, we need to think in terms of both effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness. A new modelling study published in PLoS ONE evaluates the cost-effectiveness of several strategies to prevent the transmission of C. difficile. Probably the key finding of the study is that hand hygiene compliance, environmental…
Read MoreUV room decontamination reduces C. difficile transmission
A study from New York reports a reduction in C. difficile infection associated with the introduction of a pulsed-xenon UV (PX-UV) device. The authors performed a before-after study of the impact of adding PX-UV to the terminal disinfection protocol of rooms housing patients requiring contact precautions, with 12 months before and 12 months after implementation. Overall,…
Read More