Detection and Isolation of Clostridium difficile Asymptomatic Carriers During Clostridium difficile Infection Outbreaks: An Exploratory Study

Clin Infect Dis. 2018 Nov 13;67(11):1781-1783. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciy425.

Abstract

During 4 Clostridium difficile infection outbreaks, unit-wide screening of 114 patients led to detection and isolation of 15 (13%) C. difficile asymptomatic carriers. Carriage prevalence varied between outbreaks, from 0% to 29% (P = .004). Isolating carriers was not associated with significantly shorter outbreak durations, compared with historical controls.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carrier State / epidemiology
  • Carrier State / microbiology*
  • Clostridioides difficile / isolation & purification*
  • Clostridium Infections / epidemiology*
  • Cross Infection / epidemiology
  • Cross Infection / microbiology
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Feces
  • Hospitals, University
  • Humans
  • Patient Isolation*
  • Prevalence
  • Prospective Studies
  • Qualitative Research
  • Quebec / epidemiology
  • Risk Factors