Hospital management of Clostridium difficile infection: a review of the literature

Abstract

Background: The emergence of the epidemic Clostridium difficile 027 strain has renewed interest in infection control practices.

Aim: To review the effectiveness of different practices to reduce hospital C. difficile infection (CDI) in non-outbreak settings.

Methods: Data sources were identified by a MEDLINE search in English and French. The ORION statement was used to extract key data from articles describing interventions to manage CDI.

Findings: Twenty-one studies, published between 1982 and December 2013, were reviewed. Most studies were before-after interventions, and a few studies were planned, formal, prospective investigations. The effects of the following single or combined interventions were described: antibiotic management; environmental disinfection and/or cleaning; hand hygiene; bathing; surveillance; cohorting; and isolation of infected patients in private rooms.

Conclusion: With many methodological weaknesses and some inadequate research reporting, the observed reduction in CDI may not be entirely attributable to interventions. Although infection control programmes involving education and handwashing/gloving protocols were found to have contributed to a reduction in the incidence of CDI, these measures were usually a component of multi-faceted interventions that did not provide for evaluation of the relative impact of each factor. Appropriate environmental disinfection and antibiotic stewardship would appear to offer the most effective benefits.

Keywords: Clostridium difficile infection; Effectiveness; Hospital; Intervention study; Management.