Isolation of patients with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI)
Contents
Clostridium difficile transmission
The two major reservoirs of C. difficile in healthcare settings are infected patients and, since C. difficile can survive in the hospital environment, inanimate objects. C. difficile can be spread by direct and indirect contact with the patient or the patient’s environment.
Isolation of patients with CDI
The guideline recommends placing the patient with CD on appropriate contact precautions (CP) and assigning him to a private room with a bathroom that is only for use by that patient (isolation) [1]. Early identification of patients with CDI is the first step in preventing the spread of the disease. For this reason, pre-emptive isolation and CP are recommended for all patients with diarrhoea, especially if healthcare-associated. When a private room is unavailable, the best patient placement options should be determined. A possibility is to place patients with CDI in a cohort where CP must always be applied. In the cohort, other actions may be considered, including using spatial separation to reduce the possibility of sharing items. Isolation of patients with CDI may be discontinued for two days after diarrhoea stops. A patient who is cohorted for CDI should be moved to a clean room once diarrhoea resolves to prevent re-infection.
Reference
- ↑ Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology [Internet]. Washington, DC: Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology; 2013 [cited January 2016]. Guide to Preventing Clostridium difficile Infections. APIC Implementation Guide. Available at http://apic.org/Resource_/EliminationGuideForm/59397fc6-3f90-43d1-9325-e8be75d86888/File/2013CDiffFinal.pdf
FEM Contributors
- AdrianaCataldo
- Vladimir Prikazsky
