Clostridium difficile infections in hospitalized patients is generally attributed to the current stay, but being colonized with a toxin-producing strain of C. diff upon admission may increase the risk of subsequent CDI, according to a study published in the journal Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.
Researchers conducted a prospective cohort study from April 15, 2013, through July 8, 2013. The study was on adults admitted to an intensive care unit within 48 hours of admission to the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore who were screened for colonization with toxigenic C. diff and were at risk of developing CDI.
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Among nearly 550 patients, 17 (3.1 percent) were colonized with toxigenic C. diff on admission and an additional three patients were found to be colonized during hospitalization. The study found both colonization with toxigenic C. diff on admission and colonization during hospitalization were associated with an increased risk for development of CDI and were independent predictors of CDI.
"Further studies are needed to identify populations with higher toxigenic C. diff colonization rates possibly benefiting from screening or avoidance of agents known to promote CDI," concluded the study authors.
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