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Acquisition of Clostridium difficile on Hands of Healthcare Personnel Caring for Patients with Resolved C. difficile Infection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 January 2016

Subarna K. Shrestha ,
Venkata C.K. Sunkesula ,
Sirisha Kundrapu ,
Myreen E. Tomas ,
Michelle M. Nerandzic  and
Curtis J. Donskey
Subarna K. Shrestha
Affiliation:
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio
Venkata C.K. Sunkesula
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
Sirisha Kundrapu
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
Myreen E. Tomas
Affiliation:
Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
Michelle M. Nerandzic
Affiliation:
Research Service, Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio.
Curtis J. Donskey*
Affiliation:
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio Research Service, Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio.
*
Address correspondence to Curtis J. Donskey, MD, Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 10701 East Boulevard, Cleveland, Ohio 44106 ([email protected]).
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Abstract

In an observational study, we found that healthcare personnel frequently acquired Clostridium difficile on their hands when caring for patients with recently resolved C. difficile infection (CDI) (<6 weeks after treatment) who were no longer under contact precautions. Continuing contact precautions after diarrhea resolves may be useful to reduce transmission.

Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol. 2016;37(4):475–477

Type
Concise Communications
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 37 , Issue 4 , April 2016 , pp. 475 - 477
Copyright
© 2016 by The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. All rights reserved 

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References

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