Reduced Clostridioides difficile infection in a pragmatic stepped-wedge initiative using admission surveillance to detect colonization

Screening for Asymptomatic Clostridioides difficile Carriage Among Hospitalized Patients: A Narrative Review

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) has become the most common healthcare-associated infection in the United States, with considerable morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Assessing new preventive strategies is vital. We present a literature review of studies evaluating a strategy of screening and isolation of asymptomatic carriers in hospital settings. Asymptomatic detection of C. difficile is reported in ~ 10-20% of admitted patients. Risk factors for carriage include recent hospitalization, previous antibiotics, older age, lower functional capacity, immunosuppression, and others. Asymptomatic C. difficile carriers of toxigenic strains are at higher risk for progression to CDI. They are also shedders of C. difficile spores and may contribute to the persistence and transmission of this bacterium. Screening for asymptomatic carriers at hospital admission can theoretically reduce CDI by isolating carriers to reduce transmission, and implementing antibiotic stewardship measures targeting carriers to prevent progression to clinical illness. Several observational studies, summarized in this review, have reported implementing screening and isolation strategies, and found a reduction in CDI rates. Nevertheless, the data are still limited to a few observational studies, and this strategy is not commonly practiced. Studies supporting screening were performed in North America, coinciding with the period of dominance of the 027/BI/NAP1 strain. Additional studies evaluating screening, followed by infection control and antibiotic stewardship measures, are needed.

Post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome after a laboratory-proven enteritis

There are scarce data on risk factors for post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS). The objective of this study was to determine the risk factors of developing PI-IBS following an acute infectious gastroenteritis (AGE) episode in which, by laboratory tests, the etiological agent was isolated. The study was conducted on patients admitted to a tertiary center of infectious diseases during three consecutive years. The patients were divided into two groups: a group consisting of patients admitted with AGE (with an isolated etiological agent) and a control group consisting of patients admitted for an acute upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). The subjects were recalled in our center 6 months after the admission and were evaluated with Rome III IBS diagnostic questionnaire and Bristol Stool Form Scale. The questionnaires were paper printed and directly filled in by the subjects. The response rate in the case group was 5% and in the control group 100%. The prevalence of PI-IBS was higher in patients with AGE, presenting a relative risk (RR) of 4.16 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.89-9.17], statistically significant (P<0.001) vs. URTI. From 28 female patients, 22 patients (79%) developed PI-IBS and from 17 male patients, 3 patients (18%) had developed PI-IBS with a risk of 4.4 (95% CI, 1.56-12.65), P<0.001. Regarding the infectious etiology of the AGE, Campylobacter jejuni had the highest risk of developing PI-IBS, RR=1.2 (95% CI, 0.13-3.11), P=0.04 compared with the other agents with a lower risk. The risk to develop PI-IBS after AGE infection is 4.16 higher than after URTI. Female sex is a risk factor for PI-IBS, 79% of the female patients developed PI-IBS after AGE. The incidence of PI-IBS is highest in patients with Campylobacter jejuni AGE compared with the other agents.