Long term effect of infection control practices and associated factors during a major Clostridium difficile outbreak in Costa Rica
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
The C. difficile BI/NAP 1 hyper virulent strain has been responsible for the nosocomial outbreaks in several countries. The present study describes the infection control strategies utilized to achieve outbreak control as well as the factors associated with a C. difficile BI/NAP 1 hyper virulent strain outbreak in Costa Rica.
METHODOLOGY
A descriptive analysis of the C. difficile outbreak was completed for the period of January 2007 to December 2010 in one affected hospital. An unmatched case-control study was subsequently performed to evaluate the association of exposure factors with C. difficile infection.
RESULTS
The pattern of the outbreak was characterized by a sharp increase in the incidence rate during the initial weeks of the outbreak, which was followed by a reduction in the incidence curve as several infection control measures were implemented. The C. difficile BI/NAP1 infection was associated with the prescription of antibiotics, in particular levofloxacin (OR: 9.3; 95%CI: 2.1-40.2), meropenem (OR: 4.9, 95%CI: 1.0-22.9), cefotaxime (OR: 4.3, 95%CI: 2.4-7.7), as well as a medical history of diabetes mellitus (OR: 2.9, 95%CI: 1.5-5.8).
CONCLUSIONS
The infection control strategies implemented proved to be effective in achieving outbreak control and in maintaining the baseline C. difficile incidence rate following it. The reported C. difficile outbreak was associated with the prescription of broad-spectrum antibiotics and a medical history of diabetes.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a case-control, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Ferulic acid regulates the AKT/GSK-3β/CRMP-2 signaling pathway in a middle cerebral artery occlusion animal model
- Novel Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Parameters Quantify the Exposure–Effect Relationship of Levofloxacin against Fluoroquinolone-Resistant Escherichia coli
- Photochemical behavior of levofloxacin
- Correlation Between Dissolution Profiles of Salt-Form Drugs in Biorelevant Bicarbonate Buffer and Oral Drug Absorption: Importance of Dose/ Fluid Volume Ratio
- Evaluation of the synergistic potential and mechanisms of action for de novo designed cationic antimicrobial peptides
- Synthesis of [11C]levofloxacin
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.