Private Hospital Rooms with Strict Cleaning Protocols Linked to Decrease in C. Diff

Improved environmental factors make a significant difference in the rate of C. difficile (C. diff) in hospitals, according to a new study published online in the American Journal of Infection Control.

Researchers at Okayama Saiseikai General Hospital in Okayama, Japan evaluated the risk factors and incidence of hospital-onset C. diff infections among patients in an older hospital with shared rooms, compared to patients transferred to a new hospital where 50% of the rooms were private. They noted the environmental conditions and room cleaning protocols as well as hygiene practices including handwashing, disinfectant use, and protective gear.

The investigators found 322 hospital-onset cases of C. diff among more than 524,000 patient days in the old hospital facility with shared rooms, compared to 62 C. diff cases among more than 531,697 days in the new hospital. The incidence of hospital-onset C. diff infections fell from 6.14 cases per 10,000 patient days in the old hospital to 1.17 per 10,000 patient days in the new facility.

In addition, the rate of community-onset C. diff. infections dropped from 1.71 to 0.46 per 1,000 admissions with the move to the new hospital.

“Environmental improvements after relocation may have reduced the reservoir of C. difficile, resulting in a decrease in the number of asymptomatic carriers and [community-onset] C. diff patients,” the study authors wrote.