Here are 10 recent stories and studies on Clostridium difficile infections from Becker's Infection Control & Clinical Quality, starting with the most recent.
1. A non-antibiotic drug could work against C. diff, study finds
A drug called ebselen could help stop the spread of C. diff infections even though it's not an antibiotic, according to a study published in Science Translational Medicine and covered by HealthDay.
2. Recurrent C. diff meets its match in Merck antibody study
According to recent research summarized in a Reuters report, an experimental antibody developed by Merck & Co. reduced the recurrence of C. diff infections by 10 percentage points.
3. C. diff pesticide found ineffective, EPA takes action
The Environmental Protection Agency ordered biomedical research firm sBioMed to immediately stop the sale, use or removal of pesticide products labeled as effective against C. diff, calling the products "misbranded pesticides."
4. Abnormal vitals and blood tests linked to C. diff complications
Researchers identified three risk factors — advanced aged, abnormal blood results and atypical vital signs — associated with complications of C. diff infections in a prospective study published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.
5. C. diff is over diagnosed by popular molecular tests, study finds
Many patients are mistakenly diagnosed with C. diff infections and given unnecessary antibiotic treatments, according to a study conducted by pathologists from UC Davis Health System in Sacramento, Calif.
6. What are the best methods for cleaning and disinfecting hospital rooms?
A systematic overview of infection control studies published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found studies reflected falling C. diff rates were associated with the use of bleach-based disinfectants, but not with a chlorine dioxide-based product.
7. CMS' final IPPS rule for 2016: 10 things to know
CMS issued its inpatient prospective payments systems final rule for fiscal year 2016, which includes a C. diff infection outcome measure.
8. Which 9 hospitals reported zero C. diff and MRSA infections?
Consumer Reports added C. diff and MRSA infection rates to its hospital ratings criteria this year, using data that hospitals report to the CDC. The magazine found that of the more than 3,000 hospitals examined, just nine reported zero C. diff and zero MRSA infections during the time period.
9. Infection preventionists approve 11 C. diff prevention recommendations
An expert panel of infectious disease specialists conducted a literature review of C. diff-associated diarrhea prevention measures and risk factors and voted to approve 11 recommendations, published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.
10.How St. Luke's Boise successfully switched cleaners, lowered C. diff rates
When St. Luke's Boise (Idaho) Medical Center switched to a non-bleach disinfectant, the hospital saw its C. diff infection rates drop.