Researchers have made an important discovery which indicates that individuals are increasingly likely to contact Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) when occupying a hospital room or bed previously used by a patient with an active C. diff infection. This heightened risk underscores the importance of stringent hygiene protocols and emphasizes the need for thorough disinfection measures in hospital settings. Given more stringent protocols, hospitals could mitigate the transmission of C. diff.
According to Caitlyn Stulpin in Healio, the study began with an idea. Dr. Lucy S. Witt, MD, MPH explains that mattress covers nationwide sometimes fail to stop fluids from leaking into the mattress. If that’s the case, then how often are mattress users protected against contamination or other potential health issues? Could using a contaminated mattress contribute to disease spread? These are extremely important questions to ask in healthcare, as patient health and safety should be at the forefront of physician concerns.
The retrospective study results, published in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, highlight the scope of the issue. The data included 25,032 hospitalizations and 18,860 unique patients. Of these, 237 patients developed hospital-onset C. diff. Researchers considered patients exposed to bed/room contamination if they had stayed in a bed/room that previously held someone with C. diff over the past 90 days (approximately 3 months) within one week of developing hospital-onset C. diff.
Ultimately, the researchers found that being placed into a room or bed that previously held someone with C. diff significantly increased the risk for the next occupant. In fact, the researchers note, the risk nearly doubled. Dr. Witt suggests that the bacteria could remain on various surfaces within the room. Once again, this highlights the need for better cleaning protocols to reduce the risk of further contamination or spread.
About C. Diff
Clostridioides difficile is a highly infectious bacterium that causes diarrhea and colitis (colon inflammation). The CDC notes that this bacterium causes nearly 500,000 infections nationwide each year. Many people develop C. diff after antibiotic use. If you are hospitalized, immunocompromised, or older than 65, your risk of severe C. diff increases.
Symptoms may vary based on whether the infection is mild-to-moderate or severe. In mild-to-moderate infections, symptoms include three or more episodes of watery diarrhea for more than one day, as well as abdominal cramping and tenderness. Severe infections are characterized by:
- Severe dehydration
- Watery diarrhea occurring 10-15+ times daily
- Severe abdominal cramping
- Fever
- Nausea
- Appetite loss
- Fast heart rate
- Kidney failure
- Increased white blood cell count
- Abdominal distention
- Weight loss without trying
- Blood or pus in the stool
While uncommon, both toxic megacolon (an enlarged, inflamed colon) and sepsis (a life-threatening infection) may occur with C. diff. In those cases, individuals are often admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).
Treatments include fluid replacement, antibiotics like fidaxomicin and metronidazole, and surgery in severe cases.
