Korean J healthc assoc Infect Control Prev.  2021 Dec;26(2):70-82. 10.14192/kjicp.2021.26.2.70.

Current Strategy and Perspective View for Preventing Clostridioides Difficile Infection in Acute Care Facilities

• Kim SH
• Wi YM

• KMID: 2523604
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14192/kjicp.2021.26.2.70

Abstract

Clostridium difficile is a spore-forming anaerobic gram-positive bacillus. With increasing antibiotic use, changing patient population, and microbiological characteristics of C. difficile, this pathogen has emerged as one of the most challenging pathogens of nosocomial infections. The current important strategies for preventing C. difficile infection (CDI) are patient monitoring, early recognition (prompt and accurate diagnosis accompanied by an appropriate diagnostic algorithm and a CDI surveillance system), blocking transmission (contact isolation, hand washing, environmental disinfection, and cleaning), and controlling risk factors (increasing the appropriateness of antibiotic use through antibiotic stewardship program). In this review, we will reappraise the clinical efficacy and efficiency of each strategy for preventing CDI and introduce promising interventions for CDI prevention.

Keyword

Clostridium difficile; Contact isolation; Cross infection; Environmental disinfection; Antimicrobial stewardship program

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 C. difficile infection testing algorithm. Abbrevations: GDH, Glutamate dehydrogenase test; NAAT, Nucleic acid amplification tests; Toxin EIA, Toxin A and B enzyme immunoassay. This algorithm was based and modified from guideline of American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) and guideline ofr European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) [17,18].

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