C Diff Prevention

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have an immunoglobulion A (IgA) deficiency and have had to take many antibiotics over the years. But I have never contracted Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) until

Researchers report a key target in fighting Clostridium difficile -- a receptor called Frizzled, through which C. diff’s most potent toxin gets into cells.

Spore-forming pathogens have a unique capacity to thrive in diverse environments, and with temporal persistence afforded through their ability to sporulate. These behaviors require a One Health approach to identify critical reservoirs and outbreak-associated transmission chains, given their capacity …

Antimicrobial coatings can inhibit the transmission of infectious diseases when they provide a quick kill that is achieved long after the coating application. Here, we describe the fabrication and testing of a glass coating containing Ag2O microparticles that was prepared from sodium sili …

The findings from this study highlight the potential of Rosin and Rosetax-21 as both bactericidal and sporicidal disinfectants, with their efficacy varying based on the conditions and the pathogens tested. This presents an avenue for the development of novel healthcare disinfection strategies, espec …

Overall, enrollment of subjects proved feasible, and results from this pilot study, while inadequate for confirmation of the potential efficacy of CTX, provide evidence of study feasibility for future, more definitive clinical trials.

Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection (CDI) is an important healthcare but also a community-associated disease. CDI is considered a public health threat and an economic burden. A major problem is the high rate of recurrences. Besides classical antibiotic treatments, new therapeutic strat …

Probiotics have been claimed as a valuable tool to restore the balance in the intestinal microbiota following a dysbiosis caused by, among other factors, antibiotic therapy. This perturbed environment could favor the overgrowth of Clostridium difficile, and in fact, the occurrence of C. difficile-as …

The dual role for probiotics use in dental practices

For patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), doxycycline is associated with a reduced risk for Clostridioides difficile infection.

A study finds pathogen spores remain on surgical scrubs and patient gowns even after sodium hypochlorite disinfectant application. This finding presents an infection prevention challenge.

A critical analysis questions the universal application of contact precautions (CP) for MRSA prevention, considering potential harms, environmental sustainability, and evidence-based alternatives.

Background: The ability of probiotic strains to provide health benefits to the host partially hinges on the survival of gastrointestinal passage and temporary colonization of the digestive tract. This study aims to investigate the colonization profile of individual probiotic strains comprisin …

Handheld equipment plays a vital role in providing care at health facilities. Proper training, equipment, and procedures are imperative to guarantee safe cleaning and disinfection following use.

Dr. Tamás Haidegger talks about his work to develop an AI-based scanner that tracks hand hygiene to prevent C difficile and other infections.

The current study highlights the resistance of C. difficile spores to chlorine-releasing agents.

Clostridioides difficile spores are considered as the major source responsible for the development of C. difficile infection (CDI), which is associated with an increased risk of death in patients and has become an important issue in infection control of nosocomial infections. Cu …

Ideally, antimicrobial therapy should be complete prior to transplantation. In situations in which completion of therapy prior to transplant is not feasible, therapy may need to be prolonged or modified. In most situations, infections can be managed similarly to the general population, although some …

Following government guidance by using disinfectant to tackle C diff bacteria proved ineffective in experiments

Clostridioides difficile spores tolerate disinfection with sodium hypochlorite disinfectant and remain viable within surgical scrubs and gown fabrics

One of the primary chlorine disinfectants currently being used to clean hospital scrubs and surfaces does not kill off the most common cause of antibiotic-associated sickness in health care settings globally, ...

Obesity is a risk factor for cognitive dysfunction and neurodegenerative disease, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). The gut microbiota-brain axis is altered in obesity and linked to cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we targeted obesity-induced cognitive impairment by test …

This review highlights the need for a new IP staffing model that focuses on a granular assessment of each program and care setting. Additional studies can then be conducted to examine how ideal staffing impacts outcome metrics.

Choosing the right outcomes in infectious diseases clinical research-putting patients front and centre

To combat C difficile, Christian John Lillis, cofounder and executive director of the Peggy Lillis Foundation for C. Diff Education & Advocacy, noted that awareness and innovation must continue to increase.

Kari A. Mergenhagen, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP, discusses the potential of doxycycline in reducing C difficile infections among hospitalized patients with pneumonia. This interview delves into doxycycline's influence on patients with a prior C difficile history, demographic generalizability, exclusion criteria, and concerns regarding antibiotic resistance.

In recent years there has been increasing interest in the empowerment of patients to serve as partners in efforts to prevent healthcare-associated infections. However, patients often have limited awareness of the risk for acquisition and dissemination of healthcare-associated pathogens and have rece …

Health care facility floors and sink drains and other wastewater drainage sites are universally contaminated with potential pathogens and there are plausible mechanisms by which organisms can be disseminated from these sites. However, floors and sink drains are not addressed as potential sources of …