Year: 2015
Type: article
Abstract: Clostridium difficile (C. diff) is a bacterium which infects humans and can make them ill. Symptoms can range from diarrhea to serious and potentially fatal inflammation of the colon. Significant number of people become ill from C. difficile, including hospitalized patients taking antibiotics. Our nosocomial (Hospital acquired) C. diff rate prior to 2013 was trending high, adversely affecting patient outcomes. The purpose of this project is to decrease nosocomial C. diff infection rate below the hospital system benchmark. We utilized a multidisciplinary team to implement a process for improved cleaning and hand washing with Clostridium difficile (C. diff) patients. Use of a UV disinfection device was implemented to disinfect rooms after transfer/discharge of patients that had C. diff infections. We developed a new specific C. diff Contact Isolation sign with emphasis on hand washing and cleaning of the room with bleach. Mandatory annual C. diff education was implemented for all staff via hospital online training. Infection Prevention department also provided an in-service education on C. diff for all Environmental Services employees. We measured the success of our process changes by comparing our quarterly nosocomial C. diff infection rates to the hospital system benchmark. UV disinfection usage was also tracked to improve the total number of rooms disinfected after C.diff patients. After the improvements were implemented in Quarter 2, 2013, the hospital nosocomial C. diff rate dropped below the benchmark for 4 out of 5 consecutive quarters. The UV usage improved from 50% in 2013 to an average of 85% in 2014. Initiation of UV disinfection, re-education on hand washing and cleaning with bleach were successful interventions in reducting the hospital nosocomial C. diff rate. Support from leadership for purchase of UV disinfection system was essential. Partnership with Environmental Services, Education, Microbiology and Infection Prevention was required to implement all improvements.
Authors: Prinu Gabriel, Matthew Canning, Justin Groves, Sharene Richardson, Emery Dyer, Wanda Mabry, Devonna McNeil
Institution: Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth
Language: English
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,360
OpenAlex ID: W2301488240