Postoperative burden of hospital-acquired Clostridium difficile infection. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2015;36:40-46. [PMID: 25627760 DOI: 10.1017/ice.2014.8]

Advances in Bowel Preparation and Antimicrobial Prophylaxis for Open and Laparoscopic Urologic Surgery

Surgical site infections (SSIs) represent a major source of postoperative complications adversely impacting morbidity and mortality indices in surgical care. The discovery of antibiotics in the mid-20th century, and their ensuing use for preoperative antimicrobial bowel preparation and prophylaxis, drastically reduced the occurrence of SSIs providing a major tool to surgeons of various specialties, including urology. Because, the appropriate use of these antimicrobials is critical for their continued safety and efficacy, an understanding of the recommendations guiding their application is essential for all surgeons. Here, we comprehensively review these recommendations with a focus on open and laparoscopic urologic surgeries.

[Analysis of Clostridioides difficile infection characteristics and risk factors in patients hospitalized for diarrhea in 3 university hospitals in a mid-south city of China]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the characteristics of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in patients hospitalized for diarrhea and analyze the risk factors for CDI.

METHODS

Stool samples were collected from 306 patients with diarrhea hospitalized in 3 university hospitals in a mid-south city of China from October to December, 2020. C. difficile was isolated by anaerobic culture, and qRT-PCR was used to detect the expressions of toxin A (tcdA) and B (tcdB) genes and the binary toxin genes (cdtA and cdtB). Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was performed for the isolated strains without contaminating strains as confirmed by 16S rDNA sequencing. Etest strips were used to determine the drug resistance profiles of the isolated strains, and the risk factors of CDI in the patients were analyzed.

RESULTS

CDI was detected in 25 (8.17%) out of the 306 patients. All the patients tested positive for tcdA and tcdB but negative for the binary toxin genes. Seven noncontaminated C. difficile strains with 5 ST types were isolated, including 3 ST54 strains and one strain of ST129, ST98, ST53, and ST631 types each, all belonging to clade 1 and sensitive to metronidazole and vancomycin. Hospitalization within the past 6 months (OR= 3.675; 95% CI: 1.405-9.612), use of PPIs (OR=7.107; 95% CI: 2.575-19.613), antibiotics for ≥1 week (OR=7.306; 95% CI: 2.274-23.472), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (OR=4.754; 95% CI: 1.504-15.031) in the past month, and gastrointestinal disorders (OR=5.050; 95% CI: 1.826-13.968) were all risk factors for CDI in the patients hospitalized for diarrhea.

CONCLUSION

The CDI rate remains low in the hospitalized patients with diarrhea in the investigated hospitals, but early precaution measures are recommended when exposure to the risk factors is reported to reduce the risk of CDI in the hospitalized patients.

Analysis of risk factors for community-acquired Clostridioides difficile diarrhea in children: a case-control study in Chenzhou, China

Background

Most previous studies on Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) mainly focused on adults with underlying diseases or critical illnesses. However, the number of CDI cases in children has also significantly increased, especially the growth of community-acquired CDI, which has attracted attention. This study was conducted to examine the toxin gene characteristics and the risk factors associated with community-acquired CDI (CA-CDI) in children with diarrhea.

Methods

Children with diarrhea before admission or within 48 hours of hospitalization were included in the study. Stool samples were collected from children with community-acquired diarrhea who were treated at the Children's Hospital of the First People's Hospital of Chenzhou, China from June of 2021 to June of 2022. Fluorescence real-time polymerase chain reaction was utilized to detect Clostridioides difficile (CD) toxins A (tcdA) and B (tcdB) genes as well as binary toxin gene A (cdtA) and B (cdtB) in the specimens cultured for CD. Each child with CA-CDI was matched with four control children of the same sex, age, and place of residence. Necessary clinical data were extracted from the hospital's electronic medical record system. Then, a multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis was applied to identify potential risk factors for CA-CDI.

Results

Sixteen (8.3%) of the 193 stool specimens who tested positive for CD were selected for the case group, and their matching 64 control patients were in the study cohort. The breakdown of the CD genotypes of the 16 positive cases were follows: 14 (tcdA+ and tcdB+) (7.25%) and 2 (tcdA+ and tcdB-) (1.04%). The cdtA and cdtB binary toxin genes were negative in all. The results of multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis identified antibiotic use within the previous month [odds ratio (OR) =5.13; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.65-15.91] and non-breastfeeding (OR =4.89; 95% CI: 1.11-21.53) as independent risk factors for CDI in pediatric patients experiencing community-acquired diarrhea.

Conclusions

Children who had been treated with antibiotics and not breastfed were more susceptible to CDI. Therefore, in order to prevent and to control the spread of CD infection, being prudent to the aforementioned high-risk factors is strongly advocated in clinical practice.

Clostridium difficile Infections in an Emergency Surgical Unit from North-East Romania

Background and Objectives: Colitis with Clostridium difficile is an important health problem that occurs with an intensity that varies between mild and severe. Surgical interventions are required only in fulminant forms. There is little evidence regarding the best surgical intervention in these cases. Materials and Methods: Patients with C. difficile infection were identified from the two surgery clinics from the 'Saint Spiridon' Emergency Hospital Iași, Romania. Data regarding the presentation, indication for surgery, antibiotic therapy, type of toxins, and post-operative outcomes were collected over a 3-year period. Results: From a total of 12,432 patients admitted for emergency or elective surgery, 140 (1.12%) were diagnosed with C. difficile infection. The mortality rate was 14% (20 cases). Non-survivors had higher rates of lower-limb amputations, bowel resections, hepatectomy, and splenectomy. Additional surgery was necessary in 2.8% of cases because of the complications of C. difficile colitis. In three cases, terminal colostomy was performed and as well as one case with subtotal colectomy with ileostomy. All patients who required the second surgery died within the 30-day mortality period. Conclusions: In our prospective study, the incidence was increased both in cases of patients with interventions on the colon and in those requiring limb amputations. Surgical interventions are rarely required in patients with C. difficile colitis.

Risk factors for clostridium difficile infection in general surgery patients

BACKGROUND

Clostridium Difficile Infection (CDI) is a significant cause of mortality. This study aims to identify predictors of CDI in general surgery patients.

METHODS

Patients who underwent general surgery operations in the 2019 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database were identified with demographic, intervention, and outcome data abstracted. Patients with CDI and no CDI were compared by univariate analysis. Multivariable logistic regression (MLR) was performed to determine independent predictors of CDI.

RESULTS

Of 436,831 surgical patients, 1,840 patients were diagnosed with CDI (0.4%). Patients with CDI have a higher mortality (2.1% vs 0.76%,p < 0.0001), longer length of stay (7 days vs 1 day, p < 0.0001), and are less likely to undergo a laparoscopic procedure (29.9% vs 37.5%, p < 0.0001). MLR identified older age, emergent operation, increased time to operation, surgical site infection, deep organ space infection, steroid use, metastatic cancer, smoking, and decreased body mass index (BMI) as independent predictors of CDI.

CONCLUSIONS

CDI is rare following general surgery. Infections, delay to operation, and emergency operations are associated with CDI.

Surgical Outcome in Laparoscopic Abdominal Surgical Operations with Clostridium Difficile Infection

Introduction: Postoperative Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has associated morbidity, but it is unknown how it impacts different operations. We sought to determine the incidence and postoperative morbidity following abdominal surgery.

Method: The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (2015-2019) was utilized to evaluate adult (≥18 years-old) patients who developed CDI following laparoscopic abdominal operations. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to evaluate outcomes.

Results: A total of 973 338 patients were studied and the overall incidence of CDI was .3% within 30 days of operation. Colorectal surgery had the highest incidence of CDI (1601/167 949,1.0%) with significantly longer mean length of stay (LOS) (8.0 days± 9.0, P < .01) compared to other surgical procedures. CDI patients also had a longer mean length of stay (6.6± 8.0 vs 2.1 ± 3.6 days, P < .01) and increased mortality (1.8% vs .2%, AOR: 4.64, CI: 3.45-5.67, P < .01) compared to patients without CDI.

Conclusions: This national analysis demonstrates that CDI is a significant complication following abdominal surgery and is associated with increased LOS and mortality. Furthermore, laparoscopic colorectal surgery appears to have the greatest risk of CDI. Future research is needed to determine the exact cause in order to decrease the incidence of CDI by reconsidering the protocol of antibiotic use within the high-risk population.

Robotic pyelolithotomy in a solitary pelvic kidney complicated with fulminant Clostridium difficile: a case report

Background

Robotic-assisted surgeries have gradually become the standard of care for many procedures, especially in the field of urology. Despite the widespread use of robotic assistance in surgeries, data on its postoperative complications are extremely limited. We detail a rare presentation of fulminant Clostridium difficile colitis requiring surgical intervention in a patient with a solitary ectopic pelvic kidney who underwent a robotic-assisted pyelolithotomy. Highlights of the most recent management recommendations for C. difficile infection are also presented.

Case presentation

A 26-year-old Caucasian woman who underwent a robot-assisted pyelolithotomy of a pelvic kidney developed tachycardia, leukocytosis, and severe diarrhea 2 days following surgery. Because of her long history of antibiotic use, her severe symptoms were concerning for C. difficile colitis. This was confirmed by a C. difficile toxin test and a computed tomography scan. She was given recommended antibiotics, but her condition progressively deteriorated. The patient developed fulminant colitis and toxic megacolon, for which she underwent an exploratory laparotomy with subtotal abdominal colectomy and ileostomy creation on the twelfth day of her hospitalization. She fully recovered and was discharged 3 weeks after her subtotal colectomy.

Conclusion

Although robotic surgeries have been shown to have several advantages, risk of postsurgical complications remains. We present a rare case of fulminant C. difficile colitis that complicated a robotic-assisted pyelolithotomy. Active prevention, early detection, and optimization of management are essential to preventing unfavorable outcomes.

Autoinducing peptide-based quorum signaling systems in Clostridioides difficile

The autoinducing peptide-based Agr system in Clostridioides difficile is involved in virulence factor expression, motility, and sporulation. This review highlights several of the recent discoveries regarding C. difficile Agr. Typical Agr systems rely on the combined activities of four proteins involved in peptide expression, peptide processing, peptide sensing, and transcriptional regulation. As emphasized in this review, at least two C. difficile Agr systems (Agr1 and Agr3) lack the set of proteins associated with this regulatory network. In line with this, recent finding indicate Agr1 can function in ways that may not depend on accumulation of extracellular peptide. Also, described are the similarities and differences in Agr systems within the pathogenic Clostridia.

Body mass index and risk of clostridioides difficile infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To comprehensively investigate the association between obesity/high body mass index (BMI) and risk of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) using systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

Potentially eligible studies were identified from Medline and EMBASE databases from inception to February 2021 using search strategy consisting of terms for "Body Mass Index" and "Clostridioides Difficile". We only included studies that consist of a group of individuals with CDI and another group without CDI. Then, the studies must report their BMI or history of obesity. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% CIs of the association between BMI status and CDI were retrieved from each study and combined using the generic inverse variance method. Funnel plot was used to assess publication bias.

RESULTS

A total of 4609 articles were identified. After two rounds of systematic review, 17 studies met the eligibility criteria and were included into the meta-analysis. Pooled analysis showed that individuals with high BMI had a significantly decreased odds of CDI with the pooled OR of 0.88 (95% CI 0.80-0.97). This meta-analysis had high statistical heterogeneity with I² of 74%. Funnel plot was symmetric, which was not suggestive of presence of publication bias.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis revealed a significant negative association between BMI and CDI.

Incidence, risk factors, and outcome of Clostridioides difficile infection following urological surgeries

PURPOSE

To assess the incidence, risk factors, and clinical outcomes associated with (Clostridioides difficile infection) CDI following urological surgery, which is the leading cause of nosocomial diarrhea and a growing public health burden.

METHODS

We queried the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) to identify patients undergoing urological surgery in 2015-2016. We evaluated the 30-day incidence and factors associated with postoperative CDI and 30-day hospital readmission and length of stay as secondary outcomes. Among the subset of patients undergoing radical cystectomy with urinary diversion (surgery with highest CDI incidence) we used multivariable logistic regression analysis to evaluate independent clinical and demographic factors associated with postoperative CDI.

RESULTS

We identified 98,463 patients during the study period. The overall 30-day incidence of CDI was 0.31%, but varied considerably across surgery type. The risk of CDI was greatest following radical cystectomy with urinary diversion (2.72%) compared to all other urologic procedures (0.19%) and was associated with increased risk of hospital readmission (p < 0.0001), re-operation (p < 0.0001), and longer mean length of stay (p < 0.0001) in this cohort. Among patients undergoing radical cystectomy with urinary diversion, multivariable logistic regression revealed that preoperative renal failure (OR: 5.30, 95% CI 1.13-24.9, p = 0.035) and blood loss requiring transfusion (OR: 1.67, 95% CI 1.15-2.44, p = 0.0075) were independently associated with CDI.

CONCLUSIONS

In a nationally representative cohort, the incidence of CDI was low but varied substantially across surgery types. CDI was most common following radical cystectomy and associated with potentially modifiable factors such as blood transfusion and significantly longer length of stay.

Impact of healthcare-associated infection on length of stay

BACKGROUND

Increased length of stay (LOS) for patients is an important measure of the burden of healthcare-associated infection (HAI).

AIM

To estimate the excess LOS attributable to HAI.

METHODS

This was a one-year prospective incidence study of HAI observed in one teaching hospital and one general hospital in NHS Scotland as part of the Evaluation of Cost of Nosocomial Infection (ECONI) study. All adult inpatients with an overnight stay were included. HAI was diagnosed using European Centres for Disease Prevention and Control definitions. A multi-state model was used to account for the time-varying nature of HAI and the competing risks of death and discharge.

FINDINGS

The excess LOS attributable to HAI was 7.8 days (95% confidence interval (CI): 5.7-9.9). Median LOS for HAI patients was 30 days and for non-HAI patients was 3 days. Using a simple comparison of duration of hospital stay for HAI cases and non-cases would overestimate the excess LOS by 3.5 times (27 days compared with 7.8 days). The greatest impact on LOS was due to pneumonia (16.3 days; 95% CI: 7.5-25.2), bloodstream infections (11.4 days; 5.8-17.0) and surgical site infection (SSI) (9.8 days; 4.5-15.0). It is estimated that 58,000 bed-days are occupied due to HAI annually.

CONCLUSION

A reduction of 10% in HAI incidence could make 5800 bed-days available. These could be used to treat 1706 elective patients in Scotland annually and help reduce the number of patients awaiting planned treatment. This study has important implications for investment decisions in infection prevention and control interventions locally, nationally, and internationally.

A history of Clostridioides difficile infection portends infection recurrence and worse outcomes after stoma reversal

BACKGROUND

Clostridioides difficile infection is reported to occur after 2.2% of colorectal operations and is associated with longer length of hospital stay, greater overall healthcare cost, and significant morbidity and mortality. The incidence of Clostridioides difficile infection is greatest after elective stoma reversal. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of prior Clostridioides difficile infection on patients undergoing stoma reversal. We hypothesized that patients with a history of Clostridioides difficile infection who underwent stoma reversal will be at an increased risk of postoperative Clostridioides difficile infection compared with patients without a history of Clostridioides difficile infection.

METHODS

This was an observational cohort study of patients undergoing elective stoma reversal surgery by colorectal surgeons at a single academic institution during a 10-year period. A prospectively maintained institutional database was queried to identify 454 patients who underwent stoma reversal surgery between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2017. The primary outcomes were Clostridioides difficile infection after stoma reversal and time to Clostridioides difficile infection after bowel refunctionalization. Secondary outcomes included postoperative complications, length of hospital stay, discharge destination, and 30-day readmission rate. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with Clostridioides difficile infection after stoma reversal.

RESULTS

A total of 445 patients were identified who underwent elective stoma reversal, 42 of whom had a history of Clostridioides difficile infection before the stoma reversal. There were no significant differences in patient age, number of days diverted, or use of perioperative antibiotics between patients with and without a history of Clostridioides difficile infection. The incidence of postreversal Clostridioides difficile infection was 23.4% in patients with a history of Clostridioides difficile infection compared with 9.6% in patients with no Clostridioides difficile infection history (P = .004); however, time to Clostridioides difficile infection after reversal did not differ. History of Clostridioides difficile infection was also associated with greater risk of postoperative complications (26.2% vs 9.4%, P < .01), increased length of stay (3 vs 5 days postoperatively, P < .01), increased likelihood of discharge to a skilled-care facility (11.9% vs 6.2%, P < .01), and readmission (13.7 vs 31.0%, P < .01) within 30 days. In a multivariable logistic regression model, history of Clostridioides difficile infection, increased length of hospital stay, and discharge to a skilled facility were associated with increased risk of Clostridioides difficile infection after reversal, while proton pump inhibitors use was associated with decreased risk of Clostridioides difficile infection.

CONCLUSION

Patients with a prior history of Clostridioides difficile infection who underwent stoma reversal exhibited higher rates of postoperative Clostridioides difficile infection and were at greater risk of postoperative complications, discharge to a skilled facility, and 30-day readmission. Furthermore, research into interventions aimed at improving outcomes in this unique, high-risk population is needed.

Clostridium difficile Infection in the Plastic Surgery Population: Lessons from the ACS NSQIP Database

Clostridium difficile-associated infections (CDI) have a significant impact on morbidity and mortality of hospitalized medical and surgical patients. There is a paucity of data regarding the incidence, impact, and modifiable risk factors in the plastic surgery population.

METHODS

The ACS NSQIP database was retrospectively queried for all cases performed by plastic surgeons during 2016. All plastic surgery cases, combined cases, demographics, and baseline clinical characteristics were extracted from the database. The study population was divided into 2 groups based on the development of CDI. Independent variables for development of CDI were identified.

RESULTS

During the study period, a total of 29,256 patients underwent a procedure by plastic surgery, with the most commonly performed procedures involving the breast (58%) and trunk (14%). Only 44 patients developed post-operative CDI (0.1%). Factors independently associated with development of CDI were wound classification at the end of the surgery, COPD, procedures involving the trunk, and surgery for reconstruction of pressure ulcers. Outpatient surgery was associated with decreased odds of developing CDI [AOR (95% CI):0.2 (0.1, 0.4), adj P < 0.001]. Staying overnight did not increase the odds of developing CDI; however, staying for >1 day in the hospital was associated with an increased risk of CDI development [AOR (95% CI): 1.03 (1.01, 1.13), adj P = 0.001]. Combined cases, ASA, body mass index, diabetes, and active smoking were not associated with CDI.

CONCLUSIONS

CDI are rare in the plastic surgery population and are most associated with trunk/decubitus ulcer reconstructions, inpatient hospital stay, and contaminated wounds. The patients that usually fit in these categories have acutely or chronically infected wounds, which are often treated with systemic antibiotics. For patient with decubitus ulcers and other trunk reconstruction, the guidelines for pre and post-operative systemic antibiotic usage is not well defined. For patients who have had trunk reconstruction, development of evidence-based antibiotic stewardship guidelines may help these patients by limiting antibiotic usage and thereby reducing the incidence of CDI.

Long-Term Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Urology and High Incidence of Clostridioides difficile Infections in Surgical Adult Patients

Clostridioides difficile infections are the main cause of antibiotic-related diarrhea. Most of them come in the form of healthcare-associated Clostridioides difficile infections (HA-CDI). The aim of the study was to analyze HA-CDI epidemiology and the relationship between antibiotic consumption and CDI epidemiology at St Luke’s Provincial Hospital in Tarnow, Poland. In 2012–2018, surveillance of CDI was carried out in adult surgical wards at St Luke’s Provincial Hospital. The data were collected in accordance with the methodology of the Healthcare-Associated Infections Surveillance Network (HAI-Net), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), and the ATC/DDD system (Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System) of the World Health Organization. In total, in the study period, 51 cases of CDI involved CA-CDI (24.5%) and 147 were HA-CDIs (75.5%). The most CA-CDIs were found in the general surgery (32.6%) and urology (17.0%) wards. CA-CDI incidence was 0.7/1000 patients and for HA-CDI it was 2/1000 patients (4.4/10,000 patientdays (pds)). The highest HA-CDI incidence was in the neurosurgical departments (18/10,000 pds) and oncological surgery (8.4/10,000) pds. There was a significant positive correlation between CA-CDI and HA-CDI (correlation of 0.943, p < 0.001) and between the number of patients hospitalized and HA-CDI (correlation of 0.865, p = 0.012). The total antibiotic consumption amounted to 0.7 DDD/10,000 pds; it was the highest in the urology ward (0.84/10,000 pds) and 49.5% of the antibiotics were fluoroquinolones (0.41/10,000 pds). On the basis of regression coefficients, a positive correlation was demonstrated between the use of fluoroquinolones and the HA-CDI incidence rate. Both a high percentage of CDI cases and a high intake of antibiotics were recorded in the urology department. About half of all antibiotics were fluoroquinolones.

Consumption of Antibiotics and Epidemiology of Clostridioides difficile in the European Union in 2016-Opportunity for Practical Application of Aggregate ECDC Data

Background: The most important pathomechanism of Clostridioides difficile infections (CDI) is post-antibiotic intestinal dysbiosis. CDI affects both ambulatory and hospital patients. Aim: The objective of the study was to analyze the possibility of utilizing databases from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control subject to surveillance for the purpose of identifying areas that require intervention with respect to public health. Methods: The analysis encompassed data concerning CDI incidence and antibiotic consumption expressed as defined daily doses (DDD) and quality indicators for antimicrobial-consumption involving both ambulatory and hospital patients in 2016. Results: In 2016, in the European Union countries, total antibiotic consumption in hospital and outpatient treatment amounted to 20.4 DDD (SD 7.89, range 11.04–39.69); in ambulatory treatment using average of ten times more antibiotics than hospitals. In total, 44.9% of antibiotics used in outpatient procedures were broad-spectrum antibiotics. We have found a significant relationship between the quality of antibiotics and their consumption: The more broad-spectrum antibiotics prescribed, the higher the sales of antibiotics both in the community sector and in total. CDI incidence did not statistically significantly correlate with the remaining factors analyzed on a country-wide level. Conclusion: Antibiotic consumption and the CDI incidence may depend on many national variables associated with local systems of healthcare organization and financing. Their interpretation in international comparisons does not give clear-cut answers and requires caution.

Clostridium difficile Infection: An Epidemiology Update

Clostridium (reclassified as " Clostridioides ") difficile infection (CDI) is a healthcare-associated infection and significant source of potentially preventable morbidity, recurrence, and death, particularly among hospitalized older adults. Additional risk factors include antibiotic use and severe underlying illness. The increasing prevalence of community-associated CDI is gaining recognition as a novel source of morbidity in previously healthy patients. Even after recovery from initial infection, patients remain at risk for recurrence or reinfection with a new strain. Some pharmaco-epidemiologic studies have suggested an increased risk associated with proton pump inhibitors and protective effect from statins, but these findings have not been uniformly reproduced in all studies. Certain ribotypes of C. difficile , including the BI/NAP1/027, 106, and 018, are associated with increased antibiotic resistance and potential for higher morbidity and mortality. CDI remains a high-morbidity healthcare-associated infection, and better understanding of ribotypes and medication risk factors could help to target treatment, particularly for patients with high recurrence risk.

Hospital Infection Control: Clostridioides difficile

Clostridioides difficile remains a leading cause of healthcare-associated infection. Efforts at C. difficile prevention have been hampered by an increasingly complex understanding of transmission patterns and a high degree of heterogeneity among existing studies. Effective prevention of C. difficile infection requires multimodal interventions, including contact precautions, hand hygiene with soap and water, effective environmental cleaning, use of sporicidal cleaning agents, and antimicrobial stewardship. Roles for probiotics, avoidance of proton pump inhibitors, and isolation of asymptomatic carriers remain poorly defined.

Predictors of Hospital-Acquired Clostridioides difficile Infection: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Clostridioides difficile infections (CDIs) have been identified as a major health concern due to the high morbidity, mortality, and cost of treatment. The aim of this study was to review the extant literature and identify the various patient-related, medication-related, and organizational risk factors associated with developing hospital-acquired CDIs in adult patients in the United States.

METHODS

A systematic review of four (4) online databases, including Scopus, PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library, was conducted to identify empirical studies published from 2007 to 2017 pertaining to risk factors of developing hospital-acquired CDIs.

FINDINGS

Thirty-eight studies (38) were included in the review. Various patient-level and medication-related risk factors were identified including advanced patient age, comorbidities, length of hospital stay, previous hospitalizations, use of probiotic medications and proton pump inhibitors. The review also identified organizational factors such as room size, academic affiliation, and geographic location to be significantly associated with hospital-acquired CDIs.

CONCLUSION

Validation of the factors associated with high risk of developing hospital-acquired CDIs identified in this review can aid in the development of risk prediction models to identify patients who are at a higher risk of developing CDIs and developing quality improvement interventions that might improve patient outcomes by minimizing risk of infection.

The Impact of Bariatric Surgery on Short Term Risk of Clostridium Difficile Admissions

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is major health care concern with reports linking it to obesity. Our aim was to investigate the little known impact of the two most common bariatric surgeries, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG), on risk of CDI admissions.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study using the 2013 Nationwide Readmission Database. We examined inpatient CDI rates within 120 days after RYGB (n = 40,059) and VSG (n = 45,394). In a time to event analysis we also evaluated inpatient CDI rates up to 11 months post-surgery. We chose morbidly obese patients that underwent non-emergent ventral hernia repair (VHR) as additional surgical controls (n = 9673).

RESULT

CDI rates were higher after RYGB than VSG in the first 30 days (odds ratio [OR] = 2.10; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-4.20) with a similar but nonsignificant trend within 31-120 days. CDI rates were also higher after RYGB compared to VHR controls within 31-120 days after surgery (OR = 3.22, 95%CI: 1.31, 7.88, p = 0.01). In a time to event analysis with up to 11 months follow up, RYGB led to higher CDI compared to VSG (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.87; 95% CI, 1.12-3.13) with a trend towards higher CDI compared to VHR (HR = 1.95; 95% CI, 0.94-4.06). Similar CDI rates occurred after VSG vs VHR.

CONCLUSIONS

RYGB may increase the risk of CDI hospitalization when compared to VSG and VHR controls. This data suggest VSG may be a better bariatric choice when post-surgical CDI risk is a concern.

Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhea in surgical service patients in Mexico

INTRODUCTION

Clostridioides difficile is the first cause of healthcare-associated diarrhea in developed countries. In recent years the incidence of C. difficile infection (CDI) has increased worldwide. There is not much information on the topic in Mexico, and little is known about the risk factors for the infection in patients that are hospitalized in surgical services.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A case-control study was conducted that compared the epidemiologic findings and risk factors between surgical patients with PCR-confirmed CDI, surgical patients with diarrhea and a negative PCR test, and surgical patients with no diarrhea. The statistical analysis was carried out using the SPSS version 22.0 program.

RESULTS

The majority of the surgical patients with CDI belonged to the areas of neurosurgery, cardiac surgery, orthopedics, and general surgery. A total of 53% of the CDI cases were associated with the hypervirulent CD NAP1/027 strain. The presence of mucus in stools (OR: 1.5, P=.001), fever (OR: 1.4, P=.011), leukocytes in stools (OR: 3.2, P<.001), hospitalization within the past 12weeks (OR: 2.0, P<.001), antibiotic use (OR: 1.3, P=.023), and ceftriaxone use (OR: 1.4, P=.01) were independent risk factors for the development of CDI.

CONCLUSIONS

C. difficile-induced diarrhea in the surgical services is frequent at the Hospital Civil de Guadalajara "Fray Antonio Alcalde".

Current status of countermeasures for infectious diseases and resistant microbes in the field of urology

A worldwide increase in antimicrobial-resistant microbes due to the improper use of antimicrobial agents, along with a lack of progress in developing new antimicrobials, is becoming a societal problem. Although carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, which are resistant to carbapenem antimicrobials, first appeared in 1993, treatment options remain limited. Mechanisms behind antimicrobial resistance involve changes to microbial outer membranes, drug efflux pump abnormalities, β-lactamase production and the creation of biofilms around cell bodies. Genetic information related to these forms of antimicrobial resistance exists on chromosomes and plasmids, and when located on the latter can easily be transmitted to other strains, no matter the species, which creates a risk of antimicrobial resistance spreading exceptionally rapidly. To prevent the spread of antimicrobial resistance, the World Health Organization in 2015 published an action plan on antimicrobial resistance, based on which World Health Organization member countries have laid out specific policies and targets. Urinary tract infections are a type of healthcare-associated infection, and the sexually transmitted disease pathogen, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, has been included in a list of microbes that pose a risk to human health published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Urologists face numerous problems when attempting to use antimicrobials properly, which is one method of dealing with antimicrobial resistance. Therefore, this article describes the current state of resistant microbes associated with urinary tract infections and countermeasures for antimicrobial resistance, including new antimicrobials.

2019 update of the WSES guidelines for management of Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile infection in surgical patients

In the last three decades, Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has increased in incidence and severity in many countries worldwide. The increase in CDI incidence has been particularly apparent among surgical patients. Therefore, prevention of CDI and optimization of management in the surgical patient are paramount. An international multidisciplinary panel of experts from the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) updated its guidelines for management of CDI in surgical patients according to the most recent available literature. The update includes recent changes introduced in the management of this infection.

2019 update of the WSES guidelines for management of Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile infection in surgical patients

In the last three decades, Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has increased in incidence and severity in many countries worldwide. The increase in CDI incidence has been particularly apparent among surgical patients. Therefore, prevention of CDI and optimization of management in the surgical patient are paramount. An international multidisciplinary panel of experts from the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) updated its guidelines for management of CDI in surgical patients according to the most recent available literature. The update includes recent changes introduced in the management of this infection.

Impact of a change in duration of prophylactic antibiotics on infectious complications after radical cystectomy with a neobladder

A profound number of prophylactic antibiotics are used after radical cystectomy with an ileal orthotopic neobladder (RCIONB) despite a negative effect of infection control. We investigated the impact of short-term prophylactic antibiotic use on infectious complications after RCIONB.We retrospectively reviewed data from 287 patients who underwent RCIONB for bladder cancer between 2012 and 2016 at a tertiary hospital. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the pattern of prophylactic antibiotics (185 patients in a long-term group, 25-day use of 3-staged multiple antibiotics versus 102 patients in a short-term group, 24-hour use of cefotetan). The onset of complications, including bacteriuria, febrile urinary tract infection (FU), and bacteremia, and the microorganisms responsible for infections were compared between the groups. Of all 287 patients, bacteriuria, FU, and bacteremia were identified in 177 (61.7%), 85 (29.6%), and 18 (6.3%) patients, respectively. Bacteriuria was identified more frequently in the short-term group (49.2% vs 84.3%, P <.001). However, the rates of FU within 60 days of surgery were similar in both groups (28.6% vs 28.4%, P = .969). The rate of FU was not significantly different between the 2 groups. There was no significant difference in the rate of patients with bacteremia (5.4% vs 7.8%, P = .415). The most frequent microorganisms seen in bacteriuria were Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis, in the long-term and short-term group, respectively. Antibiotic-resistant Enterococcus species were more frequently present in the long-term group.Short-term use of prophylactic antibiotics is effective for preventing urinary tract infections after RCIONB and decreasing colonization with multi-drug-resistant organisms.

Clostridium difficile infection in the USA: incidence and associated factors in revision total knee arthroplasty patients

INTRODUCTION

Revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedures performed secondary to periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. These poor outcomes may be further complicated by postoperative infection requiring antibiotics. However, antibiotic overuse may suppress patients' bacterial flora, leading to Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). Therefore, we aimed to study the: (1) incidence; (2) costs; and (3) risk factors associated with CDI in revision TKA patients.

METHODS

The National Inpatient Sample database was queried for individuals diagnosed with PJI who underwent revision TKA between 2009 and 2013 (n = 83,806). Patients who developed CDI during their inpatient stay were identified (n = 799). Logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between hospital- and patient-specific characteristics and the development of CDI.

RESULTS

The incidence of CDI after revision TKA was 1.0%. These patients were older (mean age 69.05 vs. 65.52 years), had greater LOS (median 11 vs. 5 days) and greater costs ($30,612.93 vs. 18,873.75), and experienced higher in-hospital mortality (3.6 vs. 0.5%; p < 0.001 for all) compared to those without infection. Patients with CDI were more likely to be treated in urban, not-for-profit, medium/large hospitals in the Northeast or Midwest (p < 0.05 for all) and to have underlying depression (OR 4.267; p = 0.007) or fluid/electrolyte disorders (OR 3.48; p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Although CDI is rare following revision TKA, it can have detrimental consequences. We demonstrate that CDI is associated with longer LOS, higher costs, and greater in-hospital mortality. With increased legislative pressure to lower healthcare expenditures, it is crucial to identify means of preventing costly complications.

Early Emergency General Surgery Is Associated with a Higher Incidence of Clostridium difficile Infection

BACKGROUND

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is an important surgical complication. Emergency general surgery (EGS) is a developing area of the acute care surgical practice. Few studies evaluating the incidence and risk factors of CDI in this patient population are available.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A prospectively maintained Acute and Critical Care Surgery registry spanning from 2008 to 2015 was queried for cases of operative EGS with clinical suspicion of CDI post-operatively. Diagnosis of CDI was made using toxin A/B assay in stools. Demographics, co-morbidities, surgical procedures, length of stay (LOS), intensive care unit LOS, antibiotic use, and death were obtained. The patients positive and negative for CDI were compared using chi-squared and Student's t-test. Multi-variable logistic regression was used to determine risk factors for CDI.

RESULTS

A total of 550 patients were identified. The total incidence of CDI was 12.7%. There was no significant difference in demographics between CDI positive and negative patients. Average time to CDI diagnosis was 10.1 ± 8.5 days post-operatively. Patients who received three or more antibiotic classes were at higher risk of CDI developing post-operatively (83% vs. 75%, p = 0.04). The CDI positive patients underwent an EGS significantly earlier than CDI negative patients (0.9 ± 2.3 vs. 3.2 ± 9.2 days, p < 0.001). The most common procedures were partial colectomies (21.4%); small bowel resections/repairs (12.9%); gastric repair for perforated peptic ulcer (10%); skin and soft tissue procedure (7.1%), and laparotomies (5.7%). There was no difference in outcomes between the groups. On linear regression, an EGS performed later after admission was an independent risk factor for lower CDI (OR 0.87; CI 95% [0.79-0.96], p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Patients undergoing an early EGS have a high incidence of CDI. The number of antibiotic classes administered post-operatively affects CDI status. Bowel resections appear to be at increased risk for CDI. Clinicians should have a high index of suspicion and low threshold for testing C. difficile in high-risk EGS patients.

Estimating excess length of stay due to healthcare-associated infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis of statistical methodology

BACKGROUND

Healthcare-associated infection (HCAI) affects millions of patients worldwide. HCAI is associated with increased healthcare costs, owing primarily to increased hospital length of stay (LOS) but calculating these costs is complicated due to time-dependent bias. Accurate estimation of excess LOS due to HCAI is essential to ensure that we invest in cost-effective infection prevention and control (IPC) measures.

AIM

To identify and review the main statistical methods that have been employed to estimate differential LOS between patients with, and without, HCAI; to highlight and discuss potential biases of all statistical approaches.

METHODS

A systematic review from 1997 to April 2017 was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, ProQuest and EconLit databases. Studies were quality-assessed using an adapted Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Methods were categorized as time-fixed or time-varying, with the former exhibiting time-dependent bias. Two examples of meta-analysis were used to illustrate how estimates of excess LOS differ between different studies.

FINDINGS

Ninety-two studies with estimates on excess LOS were identified. The majority of articles employed time-fixed methods (75%). Studies using time-varying methods are of higher quality according to NOS. Studies using time-fixed methods overestimate additional LOS attributable to HCAI. Undertaking meta-analysis is challenging due to a variety of study designs and reporting styles. Study differences are further magnified by heterogeneous populations, case definitions, causative organisms, and susceptibilities.

CONCLUSION

Methodologies have evolved over the last 20 years but there is still a significant body of evidence reliant upon time-fixed methods. Robust estimates are required to inform investment in cost-effective IPC interventions.

Do preoperative oral antibiotics increase Clostridium difficile infection rates? An analysis of 13 959 colectomy patients

AIM

The aim of this study was to determine whether or not preoperative oral antibiotic preparation (POAP) increases the rate of Clostridium difficile colitis (CDC) in patients undergoing colectomy.

METHOD

In 2015, data for colectomies had been collected prospectively and recorded in the targeted colectomy option of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP). This was available for retrospective analysis. Data available for analysis included elective and emergency status, POAP, surgical approach, primary anastomosis and CDC status. The effect of POAP on CDC was analysed and risk adjusted for 14 separate preoperative variables.

RESULTS

In all, 13 959 adult patients underwent a colectomy in 2015 (POAP group 5311 and non- POAP group 8648). The overall rate of CDC in colectomy patients was 1.6% (227/13 959). On univariate analysis, CDC was significantly less common in the POAP group than in the non-POAP group (1.2% vs 1.9%, P = 0.003). Univariate analysis of a further 41 preoperative variables revealed 14 to be associated with CDC. However, after risk adjustment with these 14 variables, POAP lost its statistical significance (adjusted OR 0.902, 95% CI 0.584-1.486, P = 0.685). Only patients with pre-existing systemic inflammatory response syndrome appeared to be at increased risk of CDC (adjusted OR 2.154, 95% CI 1.139-4.074, P = 0.018).

CONCLUSION

At the very least this study suggests it is safe to use POAP in colectomy patients without increasing the rate of CDC unless they have pre-existing systemic inflammatory response syndrome.

The Morbidity and Mortality of Laparoscopic Appendectomy in Patients with Cirrhosis

INTRODUCTION

The perioperative mortality is significantly higher in patients with cirrhosis undergoing certain surgical procedures. In this study, we examined the inpatient perioperative mortality and morbidities in cirrhotic people who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis using the National Inpatient Sample database for 2010. Inclusion criteria were all race and sex who are 18 years or older. Those who have laparoscopic appendectomy and have a history of liver cirrhosis were assigned to case group. An equal random number of appendectomy-related admissions and those who have no history of liver cirrhosis were selected and placed in the control group. A binary logistic regression statistical test was used to examine the odds ratio for the mortality difference and postoperative complication including pneumonia, urinary tract infection (UTI), surgical site infection, postoperative bleeding. IBM SPSS statistics was used to execute the analysis. A confidence interval of 95% and P value less than .05 were determined to define the statistical significance.

RESULT

A total of 754 appendectomy-related admissions were identified-376 appendectomy-related admissions and history of cirrhosis and 378 admissions with appendectomy and no history of cirrhosis. Control group was not found to be statistically different from the case group when it comes to age, race, and sex. Of 754, 520 were white (73.5%), 334 (44.3%) were men. The mean age was 43.75 years for the case group and 46.68 years for the control group. Comparing cirrhotic with noncirrhotic group, the mean length of stay was 1.1 vs 1.52 days, inpatient mortality was 2 (0.5%) vs 1 (0.3%) (P = .56), pneumonia 8 (2.1%) vs 3 (0.8%) (P = .142), surgical site infection 3 (0.8%) vs 2 (0.5%) (P = .652), UTI 18 (4.8%) vs 12 (3.2%) (P = .26), and postoperative bleeding 3 (0.8%) vs 2 (0.5%) (P = .65).

CONCLUSIONS

Appendectomy-related morbidity and mortality in cirrhotic patients are not different from noncirrhotic patients.

The CDI-DaySyms: Content Development of a New Patient-Reported Outcome Questionnaire for Symptoms of Clostridium difficile Infection

OBJECTIVES

To develop a patient-reported outcome (PRO) questionnaire for symptoms of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) following the US Food and Drug Administration PRO guidelines.

METHODS

Patients' experiences of CDI symptoms were elicited in open-ended discussions with patients and nurses at five US sites (stage 1). A draft PRO measure was developed after demonstration of concept saturation. Two rounds of cognitive interviews were conducted with patients at three US sites (stage 2), with revision of the draft measure after each round. All patients were 18 years or older, with confirmed CDI. The study was conducted with input from a panel of five CDI experts in Europe and North America.

RESULTS

Stage 1 included interviews with 18 patients and supplementary interviews with 6 nurses; 16 additional patients were interviewed in stage 2. Patients were representative of the general CDI population and were diverse in age, sex, and disease severity. Concept saturation was reached in stage 1. Items were organized in a draft conceptual framework with five hypothesized domains: diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, tiredness, lightheadedness, and other symptoms. Stage 2 demonstrated initial content validity of the 13-item draft daily diary (CDI-DaySyms). Participants reported that the questions were clear, relevant, and comprehensive. They were able to use the instructions to complete the diary correctly and considered the 24-hour recall period appropriate.

CONCLUSIONS

The CDI-DaySyms captures symptoms relevant to patients undergoing CDI, demonstrating initial content validity. Final content and psychometric validity are being evaluated in a substudy comprising patients from two ongoing international clinical trials (ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers NCT01987895 and NCT01983683).

Primary prevention of Clostridium difficile infections - how difficult can it be?

C. difficile infections (CDI) have been a challenging disease to treat, much less to prevent, for decades. Efforts for primary prevention have mainly focused on improving infection control practices, but CDI outbreaks continue to plague healthcare facilities. Areas covered: A literature search from 1970-December 2016 found 13 facility-level and 2 patient-level strategies that were evidence-based. The aim of this manuscript is to assess the current state of the literature on primary prevention of CDI and offer insights into which strategies may be more effective. Expert commentary: The strongest evidence for primary prevention is based on multi-faceted infection control bundles, while there is promising moderate evidence involving facility-wide use of specific probiotics. Moderate-level evidence was found for patient-level use of specific probiotics and low level evidence for vaccines. Future suggestions include use of consistent outcome metrics, measurements of implementation compliance and program sustainability.

Risk factors for Clostridium difficile infection in surgical patients hospitalized in a tertiary hospital in Belgrade, Serbia: a case-control study

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to investigate independent risk factors (RFs) connected with healthcare-associated (HA) Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in surgical patients, its frequency per surgical wards and in-hospital-mortality at a single hospital.

METHODS

Risk factors for the infection were prospectively assessed among surgical patients with laboratory confirmed HA CDI and compared with a control group without HA CDI.

RESULTS

The overall incidence rate of HA CDI was 2.6 per 10000 patient-days. Significant independent RFs for HA CDI were the use of carbapenems (P = 0.007, OR: 10.62, 95% CI: 1.93-58.4), the admission to intensive care unit (P = 0.004, OR:3.00, 95% CI:1.41-6.40), and the administration of 3rd generation cephalosporins (P = 0.014, OR:2.27, 95% CI:1.18-4.39). Patients with HA CDI had significantly higher in-hospital mortality compared to controls (P: 0.007; OR: 8.95; 95% CI: 1.84-43.43).

CONCLUSIONS

CDI is an important HA infection in population of surgical patients and this study emphasizes the importance of the wise use of antibiotics, and other infection control strategies in order to prevent HA CDI, and to decrease the incidence and in-hospital mortality rate.

Risks factors and outcomes of Clostridium difficile infection in patients with cancer: a matched case-control study

PURPOSE

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is the leading cause of diarrhoea in hospitalised patients. Cancer populations are at high-risk for infection, but comprehensive evaluation in the current era of cancer care has not been performed. The objective of this study was to describe characteristics, risk factors, and outcomes of CDI in cancer patients.

METHODS

Fifty consecutive patients with CDI at a large Australian cancer centre (2013-2015) were identified from the hospital pathology database. Each case was matched by ward and hospital admission date to three controls without toxigenic CDI. Treatment and outcomes of infection were evaluated and potential risk factors were analysed using conditional logistic regression.

RESULTS

Patients with CDI had a mean age of 59.7 years and 74% had an underlying solid tumour. Healthcare-associated infection comprised 80% of cases. Recurrence occurred in 10, and 12% of cases were admitted to ICU within 30 days. Severe or severe-complicated infection was observed in 32%. Independent risk factors for infection included chemotherapy (odds ratio (OR) 3.82, 95% CI 1.67-8.75; p = 0.002), gastro-intestinal/abdominal surgery (OR 4.64, 95% CI 1.20-17.91; p = 0.03), proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy (OR 2.47, 95% CI 1.05-5.80; p = 0.04), and days of antibiotic therapy (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.08; p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Severe or complicated infections are frequent in patients with cancer who develop CDI. Receipt of chemotherapy, gastro-intestinal/abdominal surgery, PPI therapy, and antibiotic exposure contribute to infection risk. More effective CDI therapy for cancer patients is required and dedicated antibiotic stewardship programs in high-risk cancer populations are needed to ameliorate infection risk.

Asymptomatic and yet C. difficile-toxin positive? Prevalence and risk factors of carriers of toxigenic Clostridium difficile among geriatric in-patients

Background

Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) are the most frequent cause of diarrhoea in hospitals. Geriatric patients are more often affected by the condition, by a relapse and complications. Therefore, a crucial question is how often colonization with toxigenic Clostridium difficile strains occurs in elderly patients without diarrhoea and whether there is a “risk pattern” of colonized patients that can be defined by geriatric assessment. Furthermore, the probability for those asymptomatic carriers to develop a symptomatic infection over time has not been sufficiently explored.

Methods

We performed a cohort study design to assess the association of clinical variables with Clostridium difficile colonization. The first stool sample of 262 consecutive asymptomatic patients admitted to a geriatric unit was tested for toxigenic Clostridium difficile using PCR (GeneXpert, Cepheid). A comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) including Barthel Index, Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and hand grip-strength was performed. In addition, Charlson Comorbidity Index, body mass index, number and length of previous hospital stays, previous treatment with antibiotics, institutionalization, primary diagnoses and medication were recorded and evaluated as possible risk factors of colonization by means of binary logistic regression. Secondly, we explored the association of C. difficile colonization with subsequent development of CDI during hospital stay.

Results

At admission, 43 (16.4%) patients tested positive for toxin B by PCR. Seven (16.3%) of these colonized patients developed clinical CDI during hospital stay, compared to one out of 219 patients with negative or invalid PCR testing (Odds ratio 12,3; Fisher’s exact test: p = 0.000). Overall, 7 out of 8 (87.5%) CDI patients had been colonized at admission. Risk factors of colonization with C. difficile were a history of CDI, previous antibiotic treatment and hospital stays. The parameters of the CGA were not significantly associated with colonization.

Conclusion

Colonization with toxigenic Clostridium difficile strains occurs frequently in asymptomatic patients admitted to a geriatric unit. Previous CDI, antibiotic exposure and hospital stay, but not clinical variables such as CGA, are the main factors associated with asymptomatic Clostridium difficile carriage. Colonization is a crucial risk factor for subsequent development of symptomatic CDI.

Hospital Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) incidence as a risk factor for hospital-associated CDI

BACKGROUND

Environmental risk factors for Clostridium difficile infections (CDIs) have been described at the room or unit level but not the hospital level. To understand the environmental risk factors for CDI, we investigated the association between institutional- and individual-level CDI.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective cohort study using the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project state inpatient databases for California (2005-2011). For each patient's hospital stay, we calculated the hospital CDI incidence rate corresponding to the patient's quarter of discharge, while excluding each patient's own CDI status. Adjusting for patient and hospital characteristics, we ran a pooled logistic regression to determine individual CDI risk attributable to the hospital's CDI rate.

RESULTS

There were 10,329,988 patients (26,086 cases and 10,303,902 noncases) who were analyzed. We found that a percentage point increase in the CDI incidence rate a patient encountered increased the odds of CDI by a factor of 1.182.

CONCLUSIONS

As a point of comparison, a 1-percentage point increase in the CDI incidence rate that the patient encountered had roughly the same impact on their odds of acquiring CDI as a 55.8-day increase in their length of stay or a 60-year increase in age. Patients treated in hospitals with a higher CDI rate are more likely to acquire CDI.

Antibiotic prophylaxis for subdural and subgaleal drains

OBJECTIVE The authors sought to determine the effects of eliminating the use of prolonged prophylactic systemic antibiotics (PPSAs) in patients with subdural and subgaleal drains. METHODS Using a retrospective database, the authors collected data for patients over the age of 17 years who had undergone cranial surgery at their institution between December 2013 and July 2014 (PPSAs period) or between December 2014 and July 2015 (non-PPSAs period) and had subdural or subgaleal drains left in place postoperatively. RESULTS One hundred five patients in the PPSAs period and 80 in the non-PPSAs period were identified. The discontinuation of PPSAs did not result in an increase in the frequency of surgical site infection (SSI). The frequency of Clostridium difficile (CDI) and the growth of resistant bacteria were reduced in the non-PPSAs period in comparison with the PPSAs period. In the 8 months after the drain prophylaxis protocol was changed, $93,194.63 were saved in the costs of antibiotics and complications related to antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS After discontinuing PPSAs for patients with subdural or subgaleal drains at their institution, the authors did not observe an increase in the frequency of SSI. They did, however, note a decrease in the frequency of CDI and the growth of resistant organisms. It appears that not only can patients in this population do without PPSAs, but also that complications are avoided when antibiotic use is limited to 24 hours after surgery.

Comparison of pediatric and adult antibiotic-associated diarrhea and Clostridium difficile infections

Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) and Clostridum difficile infections (CDI) have been well studied for adult cases, but not as well in the pediatric population. Whether the disease process or response to treatments differs between pediatric and adult patients is an important clinical concern when following global guidelines based largely on adult patients. A systematic review of the literature using databases PubMed (June 3, 1978-2015) was conducted to compare AAD and CDI in pediatric and adult populations and determine significant differences and similarities that might impact clinical decisions. In general, pediatric AAD and CDI have a more rapid onset of symptoms, a shorter duration of disease and fewer CDI complications (required surgeries and extended hospitalizations) than in adults. Children experience more community-associated CDI and are associated with smaller outbreaks than adult cases of CDI. The ribotype NAP1/027/BI is more common in adults than children. Children and adults share some similar risk factors, but adults have more complex risk factor profiles associated with more co-morbidities, types of disruptive factors and a wider range of exposures to C. difficile in the healthcare environment. The treatment of pediatric and adult AAD is similar (discontinuing or switching the inciting antibiotic), but other treatment strategies for AAD have not been established. Pediatric CDI responds better to metronidazole, while adult CDI responds better to vancomycin. Recurrent CDI is not commonly reported for children. Prevention for both pediatric and adult AAD and CDI relies upon integrated infection control programs, antibiotic stewardship and may include the use of adjunctive probiotics. Clinical presentation of pediatric AAD and CDI are different than adult AAD and CDI symptoms. These differences should be taken into account when rating severity of disease and prescribing antibiotics.

WSES guidelines for management of Clostridium difficile infection in surgical patients

In the last two decades there have been dramatic changes in the epidemiology of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), with increases in incidence and severity of disease in many countries worldwide. The incidence of CDI has also increased in surgical patients. Optimization of management of C difficile, has therefore become increasingly urgent. An international multidisciplinary panel of experts prepared evidenced-based World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) guidelines for management of CDI in surgical patients.