American Journal of Epidemiology Vol. 127, No. 6: 1289-1294
Copyright © 1988 by The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health
research-article |
ACQUISITION OF CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE FROM THE HOSPITAL ENVIRONMENT1
U. of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Ml 48109-0378.
Reprint requests to Dr. Robert Fekety, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Michigan Medical Center, 3116 Taubman Health Care Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0378
An outbreak of antibiotic-associated colitis that occurred on a ward of a Michigan hospital during February–April, 1984, was studied by bacteriophagebacteriocin typing. Stools from the seven involved patients yielded Clostridium difficile isolates of types B1537 or Cld7;B1537. C. difficile was recovered from 31.4% of environmental cultures obtained on the ward, and the majority of isolates were types B1537 or CW7;B1537. When the ward was disinfected with unbuffered hypochlorite (500 parts per million (ppm) available chlorine), surface contamination decreased to 21% of initial levels and the outbreak subsequently ended. Phosphate buffered hypochlorite (1,600 ppm available chlorine, pH 7.6) was even more effective; Its use resulted in a 98% reduction In surface contamination. These findings suggest that environmental contamination with C. difficile is Important In the epidemiology of antibiotic-associated colitis, and that hypochlorite is effective in eliminating C. difficile from the hospital environment.
disinfection; enterocolitis, pseudomembranous
1Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Michigan, and Ann Arbor Veteran's Administration Medical Centers, Ann Arbor, MI
2Dr. Kaatz' current address: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  A. Imhoff and K. Karpa Is There a Future for Probiotics in Preventing Clostridium difficile-Associated Disease and Treatment of Recurrent Episodes? Nutr Clin Pract, February 1, 2009; 24(1): 15 - 32. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. Ghose, A. Kalsy, A. Sheikh, J. Rollenhagen, M. John, J. Young, S. M. Rollins, F. Qadri, S. B. Calderwood, C. P. Kelly, et al. Transcutaneous Immunization with Clostridium difficile Toxoid A Induces Systemic and Mucosal Immune Responses and Toxin A-Neutralizing Antibodies in Mice Infect. Immun., June 1, 2007; 75(6): 2826 - 2832. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 E. R. Dubberke, K. A. Reske, M. A. Olsen, K. M. McMullen, J. L. Mayfield, L. C. McDonald, and V. J. Fraser Evaluation of Clostridium difficile-Associated Disease Pressure as a Risk Factor for C difficile-Associated Disease Arch Intern Med, May 28, 2007; 167(10): 1092 - 1097. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. M. Poutanen and A. E. Simor Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea in adults Can. Med. Assoc. J., July 6, 2004; 171(1): 51 - 58. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. Mylonakis, E. T. Ryan, and S. B. Calderwood Clostridium difficile-Associated Diarrhea: A Review Arch Intern Med, February 26, 2001; 161(4): 525 - 533. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. T. LaMont and A. Rashid Case 6-1994- A 31-Month-Old Girl with Fever, Diarrhea, Abdominal Distention, and Edema N. Engl. J. Med., February 10, 1994; 330(6): 420 - 426. [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. P. Kelly, C. Pothoulakis, and J. T. LaMont Clostridium difficile Colitis N. Engl. J. Med., January 27, 1994; 330(4): 257 - 262. [Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. G. Kamthan, H. W. Bruckner, S. Z. Hirschman, and S. G. Agus Clostridium difficile Diarrhea Induced by Cancer Chemotherapy Arch Intern Med, August 1, 1992; 152(8): 1715 - 1717. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|