Bioaerosols generated from toilet flushing in rooms of patients with Clostridioides difficile infection

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 517-521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geneva M. Wilson ◽  
Virgil B. Jackson ◽  
Linda D. Boyken ◽  
Marin L. Schweizer ◽  
Daniel J. Diekema ◽  
...  

AbstractBackground:Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is the most frequently reported hospital-acquired infection in the United States. Bioaerosols generated during toilet flushing are a possible mechanism for the spread of this pathogen in clinical settings.Objective:To measure the bioaerosol concentration from toilets of patients with CDI before and after flushing.Design:In this pilot study, bioaerosols were collected 0.15 m, 0.5 m, and 1.0 m from the rims of the toilets in the bathrooms of hospitalized patients with CDI. Inhibitory, selective media were used to detect C. difficile and other facultative anaerobes. Room air was collected continuously for 20 minutes with a bioaerosol sampler before and after toilet flushing. Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were used to assess the difference in bioaerosol production before and after flushing.Setting:Rooms of patients with CDI at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.Results:Bacteria were positively cultured from 8 of 24 rooms (33%). In total, 72 preflush and 72 postflush samples were collected; 9 of the preflush samples (13%) and 19 of the postflush samples (26%) were culture positive for healthcare-associated bacteria. The predominant species cultured were Enterococcus faecalis, E. faecium, and C. difficile. Compared to the preflush samples, the postflush samples showed significant increases in the concentrations of the 2 large particle-size categories: 5.0 µm (P = .0095) and 10.0 µm (P = .0082).Conclusions:Bioaerosols produced by toilet flushing potentially contribute to hospital environmental contamination. Prevention measures (eg, toilet lids) should be evaluated as interventions to prevent toilet-associated environmental contamination in clinical settings.

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s116-s118
Author(s):  
Qunna Li ◽  
Andrea Benin ◽  
Alice Guh ◽  
Margaret A. Dudeck ◽  
Katherine Allen-Bridson ◽  
...  

Background: The NHSN has used positive laboratory tests for surveillance of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) LabID events since 2009. Typically, CDIs are detected using enzyme immunoassays (EIAs), nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs), or various test combinations. The NHSN uses a risk-adjusted, standardized infection ratio (SIR) to assess healthcare facility-onset (HO) CDI. Despite including test type in the risk adjustment, some hospital personnel and other stakeholders are concerned that NAAT use is associated with higher SIRs than are EIAs. To investigate this issue, we analyzed NHSN data from acute-care hospitals for July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018. Methods: Calendar quarters for which CDI test type was reported as NAAT (includes NAAT, glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH)+NAAT and GDH+EIA followed by NAAT if discrepant) or EIA (includes EIA and GDH+EIA) were selected. HO CDI SIRs were calculated for facility-wide inpatient locations. We conducted the following analyses: (1) Among hospitals that did not switch their test type, we compared the distribution of HO incident rates and SIRs by those reporting NAAT vs EIA. (2) Among hospitals that switched their test type, we selected quarters with a stable switch pattern of 2 consecutive quarters of each of EIA and NAAT (categorized as pattern EIA-to-NAAT or NAAT-to-EIA). Pooled semiannual SIRs for EIA and NAAT were calculated, and a paired t test was used to evaluate the difference of SIRs by switch pattern. Results: Most hospitals did not switch test types (3,242, 89%), and 2,872 (89%) reported sufficient data to calculate SIRs, with 2,444 (85%) using NAAT. The crude pooled HO CDI incidence rates for hospitals using EIA clustered at the lower end of the histogram versus rates for NAAT (Fig. 1). The SIR distributions of both NAAT and EIA overlapped substantially and covered a similar range of SIR values (Fig. 1). Among hospitals with a switch pattern, hospitals were equally likely to have an increase or decrease in their SIR (Fig. 2). The mean SIR difference for the 42 hospitals switching from EIA to NAAT was 0.048 (95% CI, −0.189 to 0.284; P = .688). The mean SIR difference for the 26 hospitals switching from NAAT to EIA was 0.162 (95% CI, −0.048 to 0.371; P = .124). Conclusions: The pattern of SIR distributions of both NAAT and EIA substantiate the soundness of NHSN risk adjustment for CDI test types. Switching test type did not produce a consistent directional pattern in SIR that was statistically significant.Disclosures: NoneFunding: None


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S110-S110
Author(s):  
Christina Maguire ◽  
Dusten T Rose ◽  
Theresa Jaso

Abstract Background Automatic antimicrobial stop orders (ASOs) are a stewardship initiative used to decrease days of therapy, prevent resistance, and reduce drug costs. Limited evidence outside of the perioperative setting exists on the effects of ASOs on broad spectrum antimicrobial use, discharge prescription duration, and effects of missed doses. This study aims to evaluate the impact of an ASO policy across a health system of adult academic and community hospitals for treatment of intra-abdominal (IAI) and urinary tract infections (UTI). ASO Outcome Definitions ASO Outcomes Methods This multicenter retrospective cohort study compared patients with IAI and UTI treated before and after implementation of an ASO. Patients over the age of 18 with a diagnosis of UTI or IAI and 48 hours of intravenous (IV) antimicrobial administration were included. Patients unable to achieve IAI source control within 48 hours or those with a concomitant infection were excluded. The primary outcome was the difference in sum length of antimicrobial therapy (LOT). Secondary endpoints include length and days of antimicrobial therapy (DOT) at multiple timepoints, all cause in hospital mortality and readmission, and adverse events such as rates of Clostridioides difficile infection. Outcomes were also evaluated by type of infection, hospital site, and presence of infectious diseases (ID) pharmacist on site. Results This study included 119 patients in the pre-ASO group and 121 patients in the post-ASO group. ASO shortened sum length of therapy (LOT) (12 days vs 11 days respectively; p=0.0364) and sum DOT (15 days vs 12 days respectively; p=0.022). This finding appears to be driven by a decrease in outpatient LOT (p=0.0017) and outpatient DOT (p=0.0034). Conversely, ASO extended empiric IV LOT (p=0.005). All other secondary outcomes were not significant. Ten patients missed doses of antimicrobials due to ASO. Subgroup analyses suggested that one hospital may have influenced outcomes and reduction in LOT was observed primarily in sites without an ID pharmacist on site (p=0.018). Conclusion While implementation of ASO decreases sum length of inpatient and outpatient therapy, it may not influence inpatient length of therapy alone. Moreover, ASOs prolong use of empiric intravenous therapy. Hospitals without an ID pharmacist may benefit most from ASO protocols. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ning-Jiun Jan ◽  
Noah Oakland ◽  
Pankaj Kumar ◽  
Girija Ramakrishnan ◽  
Brian W. Behm ◽  
...  

Background: Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is the most common hospital-acquired infection in the United States. Antibiotic-induced dysbiosis is the primary cause of susceptibility and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has emerged as an effective therapy for recurrence. We previously demonstrated in the mouse model of CDI that antibiotic-induced dysbiosis reduced colonic expression of IL-25, and that FMT protected in part by restoring gut commensal bacteria-mediated IL-25 signaling. Here we conducted a prospective clinical trial to test the impact of FMT on immunity, specifically testing in humans if FMT induced IL-25 expression in the colon. Methods: Subjects received colonic biopsies and blood sampling at the time of FMT and 60-days later. Colon biopsies were assayed for IL-25 by immunoassay, for mRNA by RNAseq, and for bacterial content by 16 S rDNA sequencing. High dimensional flow cytometry was also conducted on peripheral blood mononuclear cells pre- and post-FMT. Results: All 10 subjects who received FMT had no CDI recurrences over a 2 year follow-up post FMT. FMT increased alpha diversity of the colonic microbiota and was associated with several immunologic changes. The cytokine IL-25 was increased in colonic tissue. In addition, increased expression of homeostatic genes and repression of inflammatory genes was observed in colonic mRNA transcripts. Finally, circulating Th17 cells were decreased post-FMT. Conclusion: The increase in the cytokine IL-25 accompanied by decreased inflammation is consistent with FMT acting in part to protect from recurrent CDI via restoration of commensal activation of type 2 immunity.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S818-S819
Author(s):  
Ryan Miller ◽  
Jose A Morillas ◽  
Joanne Sitaras ◽  
Jacob Bako ◽  
Elizabeth A Neuner ◽  
...  

Abstract Background In an effort to optimize diagnostic testing for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) our health system changed from stand-alone PCR testing to a “2-step” approach wherein all positive PCR results reflexed to an EIA. We report the effects of this change on publicly reported CDI metrics and treatment days of therapy (DOT). Methods The setting includes 10 Cleveland Clinic Health System hospitals in northeast Ohio and one in Florida. On June 12, 2018, 9 NE Ohio hospitals changed from PCR alone to PCR followed by EIA. Stand-alone PCR testing remained at one and GDH / EIA / PCR for discordant for another. Testing volumes were obtained from the microbiology laboratory. C. difficile LabID event SIRs were obtained from NHSN. Public reporting interpretative categories were identified based on SIR for second half of 2018. DOT for CDI agents were obtained from an antimicrobial stewardship database. Results Among hospitals that changed strategy the volume of PCR testing and the percent PCR + was similar between time periods. EIA positivity ranged from 23% to 53%. 4/11 hospitals improved their public reporting category: 3/9 that changed testing strategy and 1/2 that did not (Table 1). Two of 3 that changed strategy and improved public reporting also had a decrease in DOT. DOT increased in the 2 hospitals that did not change strategy. Conclusion Six months after adopting a 2-step CDI testing strategy 7 of 9 hospitals had a lower SIR with 3 also demonstrating an improvement in public reporting category favorably impacting reputational and reimbursement risk for our healthcare system. CDI agent DOT was similar before and after the change. The impact of choice of test on publicly reported metrics demonstrates the difficulty of utilizing a proxy for hospital onset CDI, the CDI LabID event, as a measure of quality of care provided. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 4114
Author(s):  
Nicola Petrosillo ◽  
Maria Adriana Cataldo

Clostridioides difficile (CD) continues to be the number one health care-associated infectious pathogen in the United States [...]


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 175628482110481
Author(s):  
Adam Ressler ◽  
Joyce Wang ◽  
Krishna Rao

In the United States, Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is the leading cause of healthcare-associated infection, affecting nearly half a million people and resulting in more than 20,000 in-hospital deaths every year. It is therefore imperative to better characterize the intricate interplay between C. difficile microbial factors, host immunologic signatures, and clinical features that are associated with adverse outcomes of severe CDI. In this narrative review, we discuss the implications of C. difficile genetics and virulence factors in the molecular epidemiology of CDI, and the utility of early biomarkers in predicting the clinical trajectory of patients at risk of developing severe CDI. Furthermore, we identify associations between host immune factors and CDI outcomes in both animal models and human studies. Next, we highlight clinical factors including renal dysfunction, aging, blood biomarkers, level of care, and chronic illnesses that can affect severe CDI diagnosis and outcome. Finally, we present our perspectives on two specific treatments pertinent to patient outcomes: metronidazole administration and surgery. Together, this review explores the various venues of CDI research and highlights the importance of integrating microbial, host, and clinical data to help clinicians make optimal treatment decisions based on accurate prediction of disease progression.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S436-S436
Author(s):  
Bobby G Warren ◽  
Nicholas A Turner ◽  
Rachel Addison ◽  
Alicia Nelson ◽  
Samantha Marden ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The relative contribution of Clostridioides difficile colonization or infection in contamination of the hospital environment is poorly understood. Methods We performed a prospective cohort study of patients with diarrhea who were tested for C. difficile infection via PCR and enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to compare C. difficile environmental contamination by test result. Patients were stratified into one of three cohorts: PCR-, PCR+/EIA+ or PCR+/EIA-. Environmental microbiological samples were taken within 24 hours of C. difficile cultures and again for two successive days for a total of three days. Patients were excluded if they had C. difficile infection in the past 6-weeks. Microbiological samples of surfaces were obtained with pre-moistened cellulose sponges from three locations (bathroom, adjacent to bed, and care areas) and processed using the stomacher technique. Ribotyping was completed on a subset of stool and environmental samples to measure concordance of isolates. CFU and recovery rates between arms were compared with a global ANOVA followed by pairwise comparisons using a Bonferroni adjustment. Results We enrolled 41 patients between November 2019 and March 2020. 7 patients were PCR+/EIA+, 8 were PCR+/EIA- and 26 were PCR- (Table 1). A total of 347 individual and 116 room samples were obtained. PCR+/EIA+ patient rooms had a higher average room burden (435.6 CFU (95%CI: 178.0-694.0)) compared to PCR+/EIA- (83.5 (-9.1-175.0), p< 0.01) and PCR- rooms (17.1 (1.2-33.0), p< 0.01); PCR+/EIA- and PCR- rooms were similar (p=0.83). PCR+/EIA+ patient rooms had a higher recovery rate (61%) compared to PCR+/EIA- (36%, p=0.64), although not statistically significant, and PCR- rooms (16%, p< 0.01); PCR+/EIA- had a similar recovery rate to PCR- rooms (p=0.14) (Table 2). Of the rooms with both patient and environmental isolates, 79% of patient isolates had a concordant isolate recovered in the environment. Table 1 Table 2 Conclusion The amount of environmental contamination of PCR+/EIA+ patients was higher than both PCR+/EIA- and PCR- patients, however, the recovery rate of PCR+/EIA+ patients was similar to PCR+/EIA- patients. Subsequent larger trials are needed to expand on this pilot data to determine the difference, if any, between environmental contamination levels of these patient populations. Disclosures David J. Weber, MD, MPH, PDI (Consultant)


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