Background: [i]Clostridium difficile[/i] infections become a serious problem in terms of nosocomial infections, as well as a consequence of common use of antibiotics.
Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate [i]Clostridium difficile[/i] carriage in patients admitted to the Clinical Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology without acute or chronic diarrhea and to assess the impact of antibiotic treatment on the development of enteritis in hospital. Other factors that may affect the risk of infection were also analyzed.
Results: Fourteen patients (14%) were carriers of [i]Clostridium difficile[/i] at admission. Second assessment taken after fourteen days of antibiotic treatment showed decrease in GDH antigen prevalence to eight subjects (12.1%). Three patients (3%) had diarrhea during hospitalization, and the toxins A and/or B were found in them.
Conclusions: The frequency of [i]Clostridium difficile[/i] carriage among adults in Poland may be underestimated. Screening for Clostridium difficile GDH antigen may be useful although do not provide definite prognosis of symptomatic disease during ceftriaxone treatment. The risk of Clostridium difficile infection may be reduced mainly by rationalizing antibiotic therapy and following appropriate procedures.
Keywords: Clostridium difficile; epidemiology; nosocomial infections; risk factors.
© National Institute of Public Health – National Institute of Hygiene / Narodowy Instytut Zdrowia Publicznego – Państwowy Zakład Higieny.