...| | | | | 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
...Clostridium difficile is considered a HAI, or health-care associated infection, meaning that it is an infection that is very commonly contracted in health care settings (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012). The classification of Clostridium difficile as an HAI, shows how much of a problem the pathogen is in the health care field. C. difficile is an HAI, that is most commonly contracted by patients who receive care at a hospital, assisted living homes, or even at a rehabilitation center (Goldberg, Bhalodia, Jacob, Patel, Trinh, Varghese, Raffa, 2015). Patients who receive antibiotic treatment are also more at risk for contracting Clostridium difficile (Stopping the Spread of C. diff, 2015). Antibiotics not only kill harmful bacteria,...
Words: 418 - Pages: 2
...Clostridium difficile infection or CDI has become a very big problem in the health care facility it “is a leading cause of hospital-associated gastrointestinal illness and places high burden on our health-care system, with costs of 3.2 billion dollars annually” (guidelines for dx). is an infection in the colon caused by bacteria and it its spread by the fecal-oral route. “ CDI is defined as the acute onset of diarrhea with documented toxigenic C. difficile or its toxin and no other documented cause for diarrhea” (guidelines for diagnosis). This type of bacteria is a gram-positive bacteria that makes spores that can live on surfaces for long periods of time. One of the biggest risk factors for this infection is the use of antibiotics “within...
Words: 739 - Pages: 3
...Clostridium difficile (klos-TRID-e-um dif-uh-SEEL), often called C. difficile or C. diff, is a bacterium that can cause symptoms ranging from diarrhea to life-threatening inflammation of the colon. Illness from C. difficile most commonly affects older adults in hospitals or in long-term care facilities and typically occurs after use of antibiotic medications. However, studies show increasing rates of C. difficile infection among people traditionally not considered high risk, such as younger and healthy individuals without a history of antibiotic use or exposure to health care facilities. Each year, more than a half million people get sick from C. difficile, and in recent years, C. difficile infections have become more frequent, severe and difficult to treat. Some people carry the bacterium C. difficile in their intestines but never become sick, though they can still spread the infection. C. difficile illness usually develops during or within a few months after a course of antibiotics. Clostridium difficile is shed in feces. Any surface, device, or material (e.g., toilets, bathing tubs, and electronic rectal thermometers) that becomes contaminated with feces may serve as a reservoir for the Clostridium difficile spores. Clostridium difficile spores are transferred to patients mainly via the hands of healthcare personnel who have touched a contaminated surface or item. Clostridium difficile can live for long periods on surfaces.Whenever possible, other antibiotics should...
Words: 446 - Pages: 2
...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
...Clostridium difficile is a bacterium that can infect the bowel and cause diarrhea. The risk factors of getting Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) includes patients that have been treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics, more susceptible people and hospitalization (1). Patients in hospital have higher chances to get CDI because the spores of Clostridium difficile can be accidentally ingested which may be transported by infected patients to others. Besides that, taking antibiotic can lead to loss of commensal and normal bacteria thus promote the growth of Clostridium difficile (2). Symptoms of a people carry this bacterium in their intestines usually develops within 10 days after they started a course of broad spectrum of antibiotic (2). The common symptoms of a people getting CDI are people might suffered include water diarrhoea 10 to 15 times a day, painful tummy cramps, signs of dehydration, loss of appetite, blood or pus in the stool and nausea (2). These can cause associated problems to CDI. First, severe water diarrhea can result in dehydration due to the loss of fluid and eventually may cause kidney failure. Besides that, in rare condition, if the colon is unable to expel toxic gas, it may swell and is known as toxic megacolon (2). Furthermore, patients will have chances of...
Words: 395 - Pages: 2
...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, 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
...1. Clostridium difficile (C. dif) a. What is Clostridium difficile? Clostridium difficile is a gram positive bacteria of the genus Clostridium. C. difficile bacteria naturally reside in the body and this bacteria is capable of forming spores. b. What are the symptoms of C. difficile disease? Symptoms of C. difficile disease include watery diarrhea, fever, loss of appetite, nausea, and abdominal pain/tenderness. With the elderly population being more susceptible to complications of dehydration, this disease is of great concern for them. c. How is C. difficle disease transmitted? C. difficile is transmitted through contact. Infection can occur if surfaces become contaminated with feces and an individual touches that surface and introduces the bacteria into their mouth or mucous membranes. This is important to remember when using commodes, bath tubs, and rectal thermometers. All of these things can be reservoirs for C. difficile spores. d. How can one prevent the spread of C. difficile infection? Preventing the spread of C. difficile can be accomplished by being diligent with hand washing and by cleaning surfaces regularly with disinfectants. Hypochlorite based disinfectants have shown the most success in hospital cleansing routines. Hospitals must take special precautions when cleaning a room after a patient with C. difficile has occupied it. Patients with C. difficile will usually be on isolation precautions in a private room or be...
Words: 2632 - Pages: 11
...Clostridium Difficlie (C diff) Clostridium Difficlie, also known as C diff, is a bacterium infection that has symptoms of diarrhea but can also have life threatening inflammation of the colon (staff, 2012). C. diff most commonly affects older adults primarily those that are hospitalized or in a long term care setting (staff, 2012). “An epidemic of Clostridium difficle in the United States is now killing some 12,000 patients annually, in part because neither alcohol rubs nor soap and water used in the vast majority of hospitals can effectively remove the spore-forming bacillus from the hands of health care workers, researchers are finding” (Hand hygiene woes impact C.diff response, 2010,pg 76).Let’s explore Clostridium difficle a little, how it is transmitted, the environmental factors, standard treatments and ways to help prevent the spread of Clostridium Difficlie. Clostridium Difficlie bacteria are passed in feces and thru food, they are also on surfaces or objects where people fail to wash their hands when they are infected. These bacteria spores can last in a room for weeks or even months so if you touch an infected surface you can unknowingly ingest the bacteria (staff, 2012). Normally healthy people don’t get sick from the bacteria because your body contains many types of bacteria that will fight off the infection. However, many people get C. diff following a treatment with antibiotics. “The antibiotics that most often lead to C. difficle infections include fluoroquinolones...
Words: 856 - Pages: 4
...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
...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
...prevention and control is achieved though consistent hand hygiene and thorough environment cleaning. * Addendum A – EVS Terminal Cleaning after Discharge * Addendum B – Contact Enteric Precautions Signs BACKGROUND Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in March 2012 released the Vital Signs report showing that Clostridium difficile is a patient safety concern in all types of health care facilities, not just hospitals. The CDC has recommended six steps to prevent C. difficile and the spread of the bacteria: * Prescribe and use antibiotics carefully. About 50% of all antibiotics given are not needed, unnecessarily raising the risk of C. difficile infections. * Test for C. difficile when patients have diarrhea while on antibiotics or within several months of taking them. * Isolate patients with C. difficile immediately. * Wear gloves and gowns when treating patients with C. difficile, even during short visits. Hand sanitizer does not kill C.difficile, and hand washing may not be sufficient. * Clean room surfaces with bleach or another EPA-approved, spore-killing disinfectant after a patient with C. difficile has been treated there. * When a...
Words: 2148 - Pages: 9
...Clostridium difficile, or C-diff is a bacterial infection that causes severe inflammation to the colon. About 500,000 Americans develop Clostridium difficile and 14,000 of those people die. Due to this it is a serious problem. Many expensive antibiotics have been used to cure this disease, but they failed. Canadian researchers discovered a new way to hopefully cure C-diff. They found a safe and healthy to put people’s “poop” into pills. This method was used in 27 patients, all of them were cured. These fecal transplants only come from healthy, well suited donors. The poop restores good bacteria to the patient's body which destroys the infection and prevents future infections. There really isn't poop in these pills, just the bacteria, which...
Words: 254 - Pages: 2
