PMID: 9557041Apr 29, 1998Paper

Clostridium difficile outbreak in surgical wards

Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde
T van DalenP Leguit

Abstract

To evaluate the clinical consequences of a hospital outbreak of Clostridium difficile infections in the Netherlands. Descriptive. Diakonessen Hospital Utrecht, the Netherlands. In the period from 1 August 1995 to 1 September 1996 C. difficile infections were recorded (gastrointestinal symptoms after use of antibiotics and findings at C. difficile toxin assay in faeces, or sigmoidoscopy). The monthly incidence of infections increased to 5 patients in December 1995; at that time strict hygienic measures were implemented and perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis was adjusted. Data on the clinical course were collected retrospectively from the records of the patients involved. In 20 patients, admitted for various reasons to the surgical wards, hospital stay was complicated by a C. difficile infection. The mean age was 70 years. Eleven patients presented with diarrhoea, eight patients had nausea and vomiting as well. Diagnosis was confirmed by C. difficile toxin determination in most patients (n = 15). Despite antibiotic treatment in 19 patients, recurrences were seen in five patients (25%) and five patients died (25%). The monthly incidence declined to 0-1 per month. C. difficile infections in surgical patients carry a significan...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Antifungals

An antifungal, also known as an antimycotic medication, is a pharmaceutical fungicide or fungistatic used to treat and prevent mycosis such as athlete's foot, ringworm, candidiasis, cryptococcal meningitis, and others. Discover the latest research on antifungals here.

Antifungals (ASM)

An antifungal, also known as an antimycotic medication, is a pharmaceutical fungicide or fungistatic used to treat and prevent mycosis such as athlete's foot, ringworm, candidiasis, cryptococcal meningitis, and others. Discover the latest research on antifungals here.

Related Papers

Tidsskrift for den Norske lægeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny række
A StordahlJ F Lassen
Tidsskrift for den Norske lægeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny række
J F LassenO J Nilsen
The Indian Journal of Medical Research
U Gupta, R N Yadav
The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
Kristina Bryant, L Clifford McDonald
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved