Abstract
Introduction
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.
Conclusion
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.
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Acknowledgments
We would like to thank Josh Smith, MS, at Streamline Diagnostics for the PCR method. Nasia Safdar is supported by grant number AG40669 from the National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health and a VA MERIT grant. The views in this paper do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
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Blakney, R., Gudnadottir, U., Warrack, S. et al. The relationship between patient functional status and environmental contamination by Clostridium difficile: a pilot study. Infection 43, 483–487 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-015-0770-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-015-0770-1