Core and supplement infection control strategies for Clostridium difficile discussed recently in Atlanta at the Fifth Decennial International Conference on Healthcare-Associated Infections included the following:
Universal glove use, extended isolation under consideration
May 1, 2010
Universal glove use, extended isolation under consideration
Core and supplement infection control strategies for Clostridium difficile discussed recently in Atlanta at the Fifth Decennial International Conference on Healthcare-Associated Infections included the following:
Core prevention strategies:
- Contact precautions for duration of diarrhea
- Hand hygiene in compliance with CDC/WHO
- Cleaning and disinfection of equipment and environment
- Laboratory-based alert system for immediate notification of positive test results
- C. diff education for health care workers, housekeeping, administration, patients and families.
Supplemental prevention strategies:
- Extend use of contact precautions beyond duration of diarrhea (e.g., 48 hours)*
- Presumptive isolation for symptomatic patients pending confirmation of C. diff infection (CDI)
- Evaluate and optimize testing for CDI
- Implement soap and water for hand hygiene before exiting room of a patient with CDI
- Implement universal glove use on units with high CDI rates*
- Use sodium hypochlorite (bleach) –containing agents for environmental cleaning
- Implement an antimicrobial stewardship program
* Not included in the CDC/HICPAC 2007 Guideline for Isolation Precautions