...Clostridium difficile, also known as "CDF/cdf", or "C. diff", is a species of Gram-positive bacteria of the genus Clostridium that causes severe diarrhea and other intestinal disease when competing bacteria in the gut flora have been wiped out by antibiotics. Clostridia are anaerobic, spore-forming rods. C. difficile is the most serious cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) and can lead to pseudomembranous colitis, a severe inflammation of the colon, often resulting from eradication of the normal gut flora by antibiotics. In a very small percentage of the adult population, C. difficile bacteria naturally reside in the gut. Other people accidentally ingest spores of the bacteria while they are patients in a hospital, nursing home, or similar facility. When the bacteria are in a colon in which the normal gut flora has been destroyed (usually after a broad-spectrum antibiotic such as clindamycin has been used), the gut becomes overrun with C. difficile. This overpopulation is harmful because the bacteria release toxins that can cause bloating and diarrhea, with abdominal pain, which may become severe. C. difficile infections are the most common cause of pseudomembranous colitis, and in rare cases this can progress to toxic megacolon, which can be life-threatening. Latent symptoms of C. difficile infection often mimic some flu-like symptoms and can mimic disease flare in patients with inflammatory bowel disease-associated colitis.[4] Mild cases of C. difficile...
Words: 2925 - Pages: 12
...Microbiology and Infection Control Adrian Loadholt 1/15/2015 Dr. Momeny The article I read was entitled ‘putting it into practice: Infection control professionals’ perspective on early career nursing graduates’ microbiology and infection control knowledge and practice. Healthcare associated infections are most common but preventable infections in hospital patients. Control and prevention of healthcare-associated infections is a major focus and challenge for healthcare institutions worldwide. The article was related to a study conducted in Australia. The study included all females, who qualified as registered nurses and had spent at least 5 years working as a registered nurse before commencing their current infection control practitioner role. Half of the nurses were aged 35–59 years and had completed their undergraduate training in the university setting, while the other half were hospital-trained nurses aged 40 years or older. All but one participant had taken training in infection control. All participants indicated that many new graduates had deficits in their infection control and associated microbiology knowledge, with some describing graduates’ level of infection control knowledge as ‘very poor’ or ‘basic’. One of the participants thought that the new graduates’ would lose knowledge after a period of time in the workplace. The participants agreed that increasing the amount of microbiology in the curriculum would improve graduates’ understanding and implementation...
Words: 351 - Pages: 2
...Overview of Quantitative vs. Qualitative Articles Using two research studies selected from the list of articles provided. I choose A Bundle Strategy Including Patient Hand Hygiene to Decrease Clostridium difficile Infections (2014) and Impact of a Smoking Cessation Educational Program on Nurses' Interventions (2014). The purpose of this paper is to do an overview of both a quantitative and qualitative article. Review each selected article on learning about study design, by identifying information from each component of the study. Then evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each study. Overview of Quantitative Article Research Question According to the article, A Bundle Strategy Including Patient Hand Hygiene to Decrease Clostridium difficile Infections (2014), the research question is, does patient hand hygiene included in the bundle strategy help decrease Clostridium difficile infections? According to information found in Chapter 3 (Adams, 2012), using the abstract of problem-solving, nursing process and research process, the information found in this study was impertinent to the outcome. Determining that hand washing does help decrease c-diff infections. Study Design The article, A Bundle Strategy Including Patient Hand Hygiene to Decrease Clostridium difficile Infections (2014), is a quantitative study, and non-experimental design gathers the information. Non-experimental design as defined in Chapter 6 (Adams, 2012) of the Schmidt and Brown (2012) textbook...
Words: 1437 - Pages: 6
...Editorial Analysis In her article "Hospital Scrubs Are a Germy, Deadly Mess," Betsy McCaughey warns that unclean hospital uniforms endanger not only patients, but can also endanger the general public. McCaughey notes that this is because medical personnel can be seen wearing their scrubs while they shop, eat, are on public transportation, and will even wear them at home. McCaughey is certain that many people do not realize how many germs are contained on the average doctors/nurses uniform and explains that “superbugs” could possibly transport into public places such as restaurants and public transit. The infection called “Clostridium difficile” (C. diff) is a good example of such a “bug.” McCaughey, who is chair of the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths, builds her case by citing reliable sources and studies. For example, she indicates that the National Hospital Survey released in November warns that “C. Diff” infections are spreading rapidly and that “nearly half a million people a year in the U.S.” have become infected. McCaughey also gives statistics from the University of Maryland that 65% of professionals confessed that they wash their uniform less than one time per week and the other 15% change their uniform less than once a month. McCaughey demonstrates ethos throughout her article by constantly giving the reader factual information on clostridium difficile. McCaughey points out that C. diff is difficult to contain within a hospital environment and states...
Words: 497 - Pages: 2
...explain relationships and causality whereas qualitative research design gives meaning to events of phenomenon’s (p.72). The purpose of this paper is to identify and interpret research questions, study designs, sample sizes and representativeness, the strengths and weakness of the designs, as well as results of data analysis of both quantitive and qualitative research designs. Overview of Quantitive Design Using the Research Study “A Bundle Strategy Including Patient Hand Hygiene to Decrease Clostridium difficile Infections.” Research Question The basis of a research question is to pose an interrogatory question that describes the variables and population of the research study (Schmidt & Brown, 2012, p. 72). In the article “A Bundle Strategy Including Patient Hand Hygiene to Decrease Clostridium difficile Infections.”, (Pokrywka et al., 2014), Pokrywka et al. (2014) present the research question; will the effect of an expanded bundle strategy, to include patient hand hygiene, make an impact on the rate of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) of hospitalized patients? This question can be stemmed from the main research problem that the prevalence of C. difficile in hospitalized patients causes increased hospital costs, mortality and length of stay (Pokrywka et al., 2014, p. 145). In...
Words: 2808 - Pages: 12
...Xantham gum Xanthan gum is a polysaccharide, derived from the bacterial coat of Xanthomonas campestris, used as a food additive and rheologymodifier,[2] commonly used as a food thickening agent (in salad dressings, for example) and a stabilizer (in cosmetic products, for example, to prevent ingredients from separating). It is produced by the fermentation of glucose, sucrose, or lactose by the Xanthomonas campestrisbacterium. After a fermentation period, the polysaccharide is precipitated from a growth medium with isopropyl alcohol, dried, and ground into a fine powder. Later, it is added to a liquid medium to form the gum.[3] It was discovered by an extensive research effort by Allene Rosalind Jeanes and her research team at the United States Department of Agriculture anthan gum derives its name from the strain of bacteria used during the fermentation process, Xanthomonas campestris One of the most remarkable properties of xanthan gum is its ability to produce a large increase in the viscosity of a liquid by adding a very small quantity of gum, on the order of one percent. In most foods, it is used at 0.5%, and can be used in lower concentrations. The viscosity of xanthan gum solutions decreases with higher shear rates; this is called shear thinning or pseudoplasticity. This means that a product subjected to shear, whether from mixing, shaking or even chewing, will thin out, but once the shear forces are removed, the food will thicken back up. A practical use would be in salad...
Words: 11945 - Pages: 48
...Gowning by attendants and visitors in newborn nurseries for prevention of neonatal morbidity and mortality Webster J, Pritchard MA Background - Methods - Results - Characteristics of Included Studies - References - Data Tables and Graphs [pic] Dates Date edited: 19/05/2006 Date of last substantive update: 31/01/2003 Date of last minor update: 05/04/2006 Date next stage expected 31/05/2006 Protocol first published: Issue 2, 2002 Review first published: Issue 3, 2003 Contact reviewer Joan Webster Nursing Director, Research Teaching and Research Royal Brisbane and Royal Women's Hospital and Health Service Districts Level 6, Ned Hanlon Building Butterfield Street Herston QLD AUSTRALIA 4029 Telephone 1: +61 7 3636 8590 Telephone 2: +61 7 3636 3140 Facsimile: +61 7 3636 2123 E-mail: joan_webster@health.qld.gov.au Contribution of reviewers Internal sources of support None External sources of support Centre for Clinical Studies - Women's and Children's Health, Mater Hospital, Sth Brisbane, Queensland, AUSTRALIA Department of Health and Ageing, Commonwealth Government, Canberra ACT, AUSTRALIA What's new This review updates the existing review of "Gowning by attendants and visitors in newborn nurseries for prevention of neonatal morbidity and mortality" which was published in The Cochrane Library Issue 2, 2003 (Webster 2003). No new trials were identified as a result of this updated search. The conclusions of the review are...
Words: 6846 - Pages: 28
...Patient Safety Policy Paper Metropolitan State University NURS-605-50 Spring 2012 Introduction Patient safety is a primary goal for all health care workers, especially Registered Nurses who are the primary care givers for many patients. To promote safety and well-being it is important to provide the best possible care to all patients without spreading hospital acquired infections to patients that were previously free from certain diseases. Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) are a common occurrence within health care settings and can cause many complications, increasing length of stay, and could even cause death. The goal of this paper is to provide a policy to make changes to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. The ICU has struggled with preventing and eliminating the spread of CDI from patient to patient. The unit has implemented many changes to increase hand hygiene, improve cleaning techniques of equipment, and increase staff knowledge and awareness without improvement of the CDI rates. By reviewing policies provided by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) there can be changes made to improve the CDI rates at Mercy Hospital. Policy changes can be implemented and staff can be educated on proper hygiene techniques and other policies that the AHRQ will provide. The ultimate goal is to eliminate hospital acquired CDI’s and with the policy changes this can be a possibility. Policy Implementation ...
Words: 1330 - Pages: 6
...| | | | | Clostridium Difficile | Clostridium Difficile The healthcare professional can expect to encounter various conditions within their scope of experience. Clostridium difficile represents one of the most common and challenging nosocomial infections that can cause life-threatening complications such as hypervolemia, sepsis, pain, and peritonitis (Grossman and Mager 155). The recognition, diagnosis, treatment and inhibition of transmission of this bacterium are imperative in order to limit infection and prevent death. “Clostridium difficile is a gram positive, spore forming anaerobic bacillus, which may or may not carry the genes for toxin A-B production” (Patel 102). In the 1930’s, Hall and O’Toole first identified C. difficile as plentiful normal bacterial flora in the feces of healthy infants. Initially, it was not considered a pathogen. However, by 1978, researchers recognized that toxins released by Clostridium were found in the fecal matter of patients with antibiotic associated diarrhea and concluded it as the cause of the infection (Keske and Letizia 329). The fecal-to-oral bacterial route transmits this particular bacterium. The ability of C. difficile to develop spores, enable this organism to persevere in the most extreme environmental settings. The spores can survive on common surfaces for months, including bedding, toilets and skin. The resistant quality of this bacterium increases its transmission and reinoculation rate...
Words: 1059 - Pages: 5
...Assay Solution P ION EER I NG DIAGNOSTICS EMERGENCY (1) BACTERIAL INFECTION B.R.A.H.M.S PCT™ (Procalcitonin) CARDIAC 10-14 / 9308596/008/GB/R bioMérieux, the blue logo and VIDAS are used, pending and/or registered trademarks belonging to bioMérieux, or one of its subsidiaries, or one of its companies. Any other name or trademark is the property of its respective owner. bioMérieux SA RCS Lyon 673 620 399 Photos C.Ganet, N.Bouchut / Printed in France / théra / RCS Lyon B 398 160 242 NT-proBNP2 Troponin I Ultra hs Troponin I* Galectin-3 Myoglobin CK-MB Digoxin Ref 1 30450 Kit size 60 tests 30458 30448 415386 411191 30446 30421 30603 myQC 60 tests 60 tests 60 tests 60 tests 30 tests 30 tests 60 tests VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLISM / COAGULATION D-Dimer Exclusion IITM Protein C vWF 30455 30115 30436 60 tests 30 tests 30 tests INFECTIOUS DISEASES (1) HEPATITIS HAV IgM .......................................................... Anti-HAV Total ............................................. HBs Ag Ultra .................................................. HBs Ag Ultra Confirmation....................... Anti-HBs Total Quick................................. Anti-HBs Total II** ..................................... Anti-HBc Total II .......................................... HBc IgM II ....................................................... HBe-Anti HBe................................................ Anti-HCV.....
Words: 672 - Pages: 3
...Patients receiving chemotherapy treatments are a vulnerable population. They are susceptible to many infections and transmittable diseases, due to the suppression of their immune system by cytotoxic medications. The susceptible patients are usually merged within the population of hospital and clinical treatment centers, where their exposure to infections is likely (Siegel, Rhinehart, Jackson, Chiarello, & the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee, 2007). In the outpatient clinical setting, a cancer patient is scheduled to come in and receive his/her chemotherapy treatments, as well as visit with his/her oncology physician. Once the treatments are completed, he/she may then leave. This arrangement is enticing for both the patient, and the hospital. The patient is not confined to the hospital for the length of his/her treatment, and the hospital can reduce their patient load, thus having the ability to focus on those who are in need of critical care. The outpatient clinic, however, is not without risk. The ever-plastic environment, as well as the, “various interactions and contacts of patients at different institutions of care” (Vaartico-Rajalin et al., 2015, p. 2) can expose them, their families, and caregivers to the many lurking infections that are not as easily controlled. Infections transmitted in this manner are termed hospital acquired infections (HAI). To protect everyone in these environments, as well as in any care institution or home care setting from...
Words: 582 - Pages: 3
...Although the term poop pills may sound disgusting, it may just be a life changing antibiotic. Thousands of Americans get Clostridium difficile (C-diff) each year and 14,000 of them die from C-diff. But, there is an antibiotic that’s known to destroy the C-diff and also harm the body as well. Though studies show that a fecal transplant can restore the bacteria and prevent infections to form in your body. Doctors have gave the transplant a try, but they have not really been successful. The stool that is transplanted usually comes from relatives, and doctors extract the bacteria from the poop and insert it into gel capsules. Even though this pill seems gross, the pill does not affect the smell or health of your body. This transplant does require...
Words: 271 - Pages: 2
...A. R. K Baker ENG 102 4 May 2012 Microorganisms at Work This topic is about how microorganisms continue to live in hospital rooms even after the rooms have been cleaned. The organisms that concern me are the multi resistant ones. It starts with a patient who is in isolation because of one of these bacteria’s and then discharged from the hospital after they are well. If these organisms are on the bedside table or the handrails the patient is already cured so it will not affect them. What about the patient coming in the room next? It is left to the housekeepers to clean the room well enough to prevent the spread of these infections. These infections that are spread from one patient to another are called nosocomial infections. They are hospital acquired bacteria’s. I came to this topic after my daughter had this exact thing happen to her. She is a brittle diabetic and at one point required a lot of hospital visits. After one of these visits she started to develop a boil. This in turn caused her blood sugar to go up and we ended up back in the hospital. Thinking the boil was a spider bite we were surprised to find out it was methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). They explained that it was a nosocomial infection that was probably acquired on our last hospital visit. When asked how she got it they said it was multi resistant and was passed from something she came in contact with that another patient would have touched. This is a problem that has been on the...
Words: 1505 - Pages: 7
...Clostridium Difficlie Amy Roger Margaret Mcgannon Learning about Clostridium difficile Clostridium difficile also known a C. difficile or C. diff is an inflammatory infection created in the intestine primarily caused by taking antibiotics. Most people don’t show symptoms of having the C. diff bacteria in your intestines until that person has taken a course of antibiotics. Clostridium difficile bacteria can be found anywhere in the environment. It is found is soil, water, human and animal feces, food products and processed meats (Mayo clinic staff, 2013). Treatments to cure C. diff include antibiotics and surgery. Once having C. diff you want to make sure that you can prevent from getting it again. The best way to prevent from getting C. diff for the first time or a recurring time is to simply wash your hands, avoid unsanitary environments, disinfect surfaces that could possibly be infected, and try to avoid antibiotics when possible (Mayo clinic staff, 2013). Every person has bacteria already in their intestines that help to fight off illness and other bad bacteria that are introduced into the body. When a person takes antibiotics it not only kills that bad bacteria but also kills the good bacteria as well. If a person has Clostridium difficile bacteria in their system it allows the bacteria to grow and causes inflammation in the intestines. Once someone has the Clostridium difficile bacteria in their body and taking antibiotics it allows them to grow out of control causing...
Words: 790 - Pages: 4
...There are several people who use antibiotics for the wrong reasons. Some people think that using antibiotics will get rid of a cold or the flu virus faster or clear up a skin condition. Antibiotics should only be consumed for the infectious illness in which they were suggested for. Antibiotics are abused world-wide, and abuse of the medication can do more harm than help. I chose to research antibiotic abuse and the underlying issues with antibiotics. Antibiotics are being abused in so many ways by people and industries everywhere. The focus will be on agricultural abuse of antibiotics, human abuse, and antibiotic resistance. I will conduct various phone or face to face interviews with individuals as well as provide a questionnaire survey to obtain the information needed for this particular project. What are antibiotics? Antibiotics are “A medicine (such as penicillin or its derivatives) that inhibits the growth of or destroys microorganisms”, (What You Should Know about Antibiotics, 2012, p. 3). Antibiotics are used to treat various infections within the body cavity. They help ward off unwanted illnesses. There are various types of antibiotics each one has a significant role in fighting bacteria or fungal infections. “How do antibiotics work? When properly prescribed for a bacterial illness, antibiotics join forces with your body’s own defenses and literally wage war against invading bacteria. Some antibiotics dissolve the protective cell wall of an organism, rupturing and...
Words: 1681 - Pages: 7
