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AHRQ Research Studies Date
Topics
- Antibiotics (4)
- Antimicrobial Stewardship (1)
- (-) Clostridium difficile Infections (17)
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- Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) (17)
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AHRQ Research Studies
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
1 to 17 of 17 Research Studies DisplayedMorgan DJ, Dubberke ER, Hink T
The impact of universal glove and gown use on Clostridioides difficile acquisition: a cluster-randomized trial.
This article described a secondary analysis of a cluster-randomized trial in medical and surgical intensive care units (ICUs) in 20 US hospitals to assess whether universal gown and glove use decreases Clostridioides difficile infection. ICUs were randomized to standard practice for glove and gown use versus all healthcare workers required to wear gloves and gowns for all patient contact or when entering a patient room. The results showed no significant difference in the rate of toxigenic C. difficile with universal gown and glove use.
AHRQ-funded; HS025456.
Citation: Morgan DJ, Dubberke ER, Hink T .
The impact of universal glove and gown use on Clostridioides difficile acquisition: a cluster-randomized trial.
Clin Infect Dis 2023 Feb 8; 76(3):e1202-e07. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciac519..
Keywords: Clostridium difficile Infections, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Prevention
Huang J, Park GW, Jones RM
Efficacy of EPA-registered disinfectants against two human norovirus surrogates and Clostridioides difficile endospores.
This study’s goal was to determine the efficacy of a panel of nine EPA-registered disinfectants against two human norovirus (HuNoV) surrogates (feline calicivirus [FCV] and Tulane virus [TuV]) and Clostridioides difficile endospores. These products, five of which contained H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) as the active ingredient, were tested against infectious FCV, TuV, and C. difficile endospores using two ASTM methods, a suspension and carrier test. Products containing hydrogen peroxide were the most efficacious. Of the five products containing hydrogen peroxide, no strong correlation was observed between disinfection efficacy and hydrogen peroxide concentration. Addition of 0.025% ferrous sulphate to 1% hydrogen peroxide solution improved efficacy against FCV, TuV and C. difficile.
AHRQ-funded; HS025987.
Citation: Huang J, Park GW, Jones RM .
Efficacy of EPA-registered disinfectants against two human norovirus surrogates and Clostridioides difficile endospores.
J Appl Microbiol 2022 Jun;132(6):4289-99. doi: 10.1111/jam.15524..
Keywords: Clostridium difficile Infections, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Prevention, Patient Safety
Cannon JL, Park GW, Anderson B
Hygienic monitoring in long-term care facilities using ATP, crAssphage, and human noroviruses to direct environmental surface cleaning.
Norovirus and C. difficile can be transmitted by contaminated environmental surfaces and are associated with diarrheal illnesses and deaths in long-term care (LTC) facilities. Hygienic monitoring tools such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence and indicators of fecal contamination can help to identify LTC facility surfaces with cleaning deficiencies. The researchers swabbed and tested high-touch surfaces in 11 LTC facilities for contamination by norovirus, a fecal indicator virus, crAssphage, and ATP. The study found that greater than 90% of surfaces tested positive for crAssphage or failed in their ATP scores. Norovirus contamination was not detected. Handrails, equipment controls, and patient beds were 4 times more likely than other surfaces or locations to have high levels of crAssphage. Patient bed handrails and tables and chairs in patient lounges had high levels of both ATP and crAssphage.
AHRQ-funded; HS025987.
Citation: Cannon JL, Park GW, Anderson B .
Hygienic monitoring in long-term care facilities using ATP, crAssphage, and human noroviruses to direct environmental surface cleaning.
Am J Infect Control 2022 Mar; 50(3):289-94. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2021.11.014..
Keywords: Nursing Homes, Long-Term Care, Prevention, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Clostridium difficile Infections
Safdar N, Parmasad V, Brown R
Decreasing ICU-associated Clostridioides difficile infection through fluoroquinolone restriction, the FIRST trial: a study protocol.
Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is one of the most common healthcare-associated infections in the USA, having high incidence in intensive care units (ICU). Antibiotic use increases risk of CDI, with fluoroquinolones (FQs) particularly implicated. In healthcare settings, antibiotic stewardship (AS) and infection control interventions are effective in CDI control, but there is little evidence regarding the most effective AS interventions. In this paper the investigators describe their multisite, stepped-wedge, cluster, effectiveness-implementation clinical trial.
AHRQ-funded; R01 HS026226.
Citation: Safdar N, Parmasad V, Brown R .
Decreasing ICU-associated Clostridioides difficile infection through fluoroquinolone restriction, the FIRST trial: a study protocol.
BMJ Open 2021 Jun 29;11(6):e046480. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046480..
Keywords: Clostridium difficile Infections, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Antimicrobial Stewardship, Antibiotics, Medication, Prevention
Schoyer E, Hall K
Environmental cleaning and decontamination to prevent clostridioides difficile infection in health care settings: a systematic review.
The aim of this systematic review was to examine the most effective and feasible methods for environmental cleaning and decontamination to prevent Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in health care settings. The investigators concluded that the studied practices for environmental cleaning and decontamination were associated with significant decreases in facility-level CDI rates in most of the reviewed studies; however, study quality was low.
AHRQ-funded; 233201500013I.
Citation: Schoyer E, Hall K .
Environmental cleaning and decontamination to prevent clostridioides difficile infection in health care settings: a systematic review.
J Patient Saf 2020 Sep;16(3S Suppl 1):S12-s15. doi: 10.1097/pts.0000000000000749..
Keywords: Clostridium difficile Infections, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Infectious Diseases, Prevention, Patient Safety
Musuuza JS, Hundt AS, Carayon P
Implementation of a Clostridioides difficile prevention bundle: understanding common, unique, and conflicting work system barriers and facilitators for subprocess design.
This study assessed the factors that should be considered when designing subprocesses of a Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) prevention bundle. Three focus groups were conducted with environmental services staff, physicians and nurses to assess their perspectives on the prevention bundle and barriers to implementation. Common barriers included inconsistencies in knowledge and practice of CD management procedures; increased workload; poor setup of aspects of the physical environment; and inconsistencies in CD documentation. There were also unique barriers in different hospital environments. The authors recommend a systems engineering approach to help holistically identify factors that influence successful implementation of subprocesses of the CD infection prevention bundle.
AHRQ-funded; HS023791.
Citation: Musuuza JS, Hundt AS, Carayon P .
Implementation of a Clostridioides difficile prevention bundle: understanding common, unique, and conflicting work system barriers and facilitators for subprocess design.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2019 Aug;40(8):880-88. doi: 10.1017/ice.2019.150..
Keywords: Clostridium difficile Infections, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Patient Safety, Prevention
Caroff DA, Menchaca JT, Zhang Z
Oral vancomycin prophylaxis during systemic antibiotic exposure to prevent Clostridiodes difficile infection relapses.
This study’s goal was to determine if giving hospitalized patients oral vancomycin along with systematic antibiotics prevents relapse of Cloistridioides difficile infection (CDI). The results show that the outcome was not statistically significant, although it may help patients who have only had 1 prior CDI episode.
AHRQ-funded; HS025008.
Citation: Caroff DA, Menchaca JT, Zhang Z .
Oral vancomycin prophylaxis during systemic antibiotic exposure to prevent Clostridiodes difficile infection relapses.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2019 Jun;40(6):662-67. doi: 10.1017/ice.2019.88..
Keywords: Antibiotics, Clostridium difficile Infections, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Medication, Prevention
Anderson DJ, Moehring RW, Weber DJ
Effectiveness of targeted enhanced terminal room disinfection on hospital-wide acquisition and infection with multidrug-resistant organisms and Clostridium difficile: a secondary analysis of a multicentre cluster randomised controlled trial with crossover
In this study, the investigators aimed to assess the effectiveness of four disinfection strategies on hospital-wide incidence of multidrug-resistant organisms and Clostridium difficile in the Benefits of Enhanced Terminal Room (BETR) Disinfection study. The investigators found that enhanced terminal room disinfection with ultraviolet (UV) in a targeted subset of high-risk rooms led to a decrease in hospital-wide incidence of C difficile and vancomycin-resistant enterococci.
AHRQ-funded; HS023866.
Citation: Anderson DJ, Moehring RW, Weber DJ .
Effectiveness of targeted enhanced terminal room disinfection on hospital-wide acquisition and infection with multidrug-resistant organisms and Clostridium difficile: a secondary analysis of a multicentre cluster randomised controlled trial with crossover
Lancet Infect Dis 2018 Aug;18(8):845-53. doi: 10.1016/s1473-3099(18)30278-0..
Keywords: Clostridium difficile Infections, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Hospitals, Infectious Diseases, Inpatient Care, Patient Safety, Prevention
Seibert G, Ewers T, Barker AK
What do visitors know and how do they feel about contact precautions?
This study surveyed visitors of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) patients to understand their compliance, knowledge, and perceptions of contact precautions. Nursing staff were the fundamental source for information on personal protective equipment (PPE) for visitors, but the researchers discovered variation in staff communication regarding the need for PPE use. Although most visitors knew where to find required personal protective equipment, less than half were fully compliant with gown and gloves.
AHRQ-funded; HS024039.
Citation: Seibert G, Ewers T, Barker AK .
What do visitors know and how do they feel about contact precautions?
Am J Infect Control 2018 Jan;46(1):115-17. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2017.05.011..
Keywords: Clostridium difficile Infections, Guidelines, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Infectious Diseases, Prevention
Jump RLP, Gaur S, Katz MJ
Template for an antibiotic stewardship policy for post-acute and long-term care settings.
To support compliance with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services (CMS) requirements and aid facilities in establishing a stewardship program, the Infection Advisory Committee at the American Medical Directors Association -The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, has developed an antibiotic stewardship policy template tailored to the long-term care setting. This paper describes that policy template.
AHRQ-funded; HS022465; HS023779.
Citation: Jump RLP, Gaur S, Katz MJ .
Template for an antibiotic stewardship policy for post-acute and long-term care settings.
J Am Med Dir Assoc 2017 Nov;18(11):913-20. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2017.07.018..
Keywords: Antibiotics, Clostridium difficile Infections, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Policy, Prevention
Barker AK, Zellmer C, Tischendorf J
On the hands of patients with Clostridium difficile: a study of spore prevalence and the effect of hand hygiene on C difficile removal.
This study assessed the prevalence of Clostridium difficile spores in 48 observations of infected inpatients after randomly assigning them to hand hygiene with either alcohol-based handrub or soap and water.
AHRQ-funded; HS023791.
Citation: Barker AK, Zellmer C, Tischendorf J .
On the hands of patients with Clostridium difficile: a study of spore prevalence and the effect of hand hygiene on C difficile removal.
Am J Infect Control 2017 Oct;45(10):1154-56. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2017.03.005..
Keywords: Clostridium difficile Infections, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Patient Safety, Prevention
Deshpande A, Cadnum JL, Fertelli D
Are hospital floors an underappreciated reservoir for transmission of health care-associated pathogens?
In a survey of 5 hospitals, the researchers found that floors in patient rooms were frequently contaminated with pathogens and high-touch objects such as blood pressure cuffs and call buttons were often in contact with the floor. Contact with objects on floors frequently resulted in transfer of pathogens to hands.
AHRQ-funded; HS020004.
Citation: Deshpande A, Cadnum JL, Fertelli D .
Are hospital floors an underappreciated reservoir for transmission of health care-associated pathogens?
Am J Infect Control 2017 Mar;45(3):336-38. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2016.11.005.
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Keywords: Hospitals, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Clostridium difficile Infections, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Prevention, Patient Safety
Anderson DJ, Chen LF, Weber DJ
Enhanced terminal room disinfection and acquisition and infection caused by multidrug-resistant organisms and Clostridium difficile (the Benefits of Enhanced Terminal Room Disinfection study): a cluster-randomised, multicentre, crossover study.
The researchers determined the effects of three enhanced strategies for terminal room disinfection (disinfection of a room between occupying patients) on acquisition and infection due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant enterococci, C difficile, and multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter. They found that the incidence of target organisms among exposed patients was significantly lower after adding UV (quaternary ammonium disinfectant and disinfecting ultraviolet [UV-C]) light to standard cleaning strategies.
AHRQ-funded; HS023866.
Citation: Anderson DJ, Chen LF, Weber DJ .
Enhanced terminal room disinfection and acquisition and infection caused by multidrug-resistant organisms and Clostridium difficile (the Benefits of Enhanced Terminal Room Disinfection study): a cluster-randomised, multicentre, crossover study.
Lancet 2017 Feb 25;389(10071):805-14. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(16)31588-4.
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Keywords: Clostridium difficile Infections, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Hospitals, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Prevention, Patient Safety
Ruis AR, Shaffer DW, Shirley DK
Teaching health care workers to adopt a systems perspective for improved control and prevention of health care-associated infections.
The authors argue that procedural approaches alone, even with high levels of adherence, are often insufficient to solve the growing problem of health care-associated infections (HAIs); it is equally important that interventions address the more complex cognitive aspects of HAI control and prevention. Health care workers (HCWs) face many patient care situations for which standard procedures have not been and cannot be developed.
AHRQ-funded; HS023791.
Citation: Ruis AR, Shaffer DW, Shirley DK .
Teaching health care workers to adopt a systems perspective for improved control and prevention of health care-associated infections.
Am J Infect Control 2016 Nov;44(11):1360-64. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2016.04.211.
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Keywords: Clostridium difficile Infections, Education: Continuing Medical Education, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Prevention, Provider
Olsen MA, Young-Xu Y, Stwalley D
The burden of Clostridium difficile infection: estimates of the incidence of CDI from U.S. administrative databases.
The researchers used comparable methods with multiple administrative databases to compare the incidence of clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in older and younger persons in the United States. They found that the incidence of CDI was 10-fold lower and the proportion of community-onset CDI was much higher in the privately insured younger LabRx population compared to the elderly Medicare population.
AHRQ-funded; HS019455.
Citation: Olsen MA, Young-Xu Y, Stwalley D .
The burden of Clostridium difficile infection: estimates of the incidence of CDI from U.S. administrative databases.
BMC Infect Dis 2016 Apr 22;16:177. doi: 10.1186/s12879-016-1501-7.
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Keywords: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Clostridium difficile Infections, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Data, Prevention
Slayton RB, Toth D, Lee BY
Vital signs: estimated effects of a coordinated approach for action to reduce antibiotic-resistant infections in health care facilities - United States.
The researchers analyzed data from CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network and Emerging Infections Program to project the number of health care-associated infections (HAIs) from antibiotic-resistant bacteria or C. difficile both with and without a large scale national intervention that would include interrupting transmission and improved antibiotic stewardship. They found that, with effective action now, more than half a million antibiotic-resistant HAIs could be prevented over 5 years and that a coordinated approach to interrupting transmission is more effective than historical independent facility-based efforts.
AHRQ-funded; HS023317.
Citation: Slayton RB, Toth D, Lee BY .
Vital signs: estimated effects of a coordinated approach for action to reduce antibiotic-resistant infections in health care facilities - United States.
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2015 Aug 7;64(30):826-31.
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Keywords: Antibiotics, Clostridium difficile Infections, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Patient Safety, Prevention
Safdar N, Perencevich E
Crossing the quality chasm for Clostridium difficile infection prevention.
The author comments on a new population-based cohort study (Daneman, et al.) in the same journal issue on the association of hospital prevention processes and patient risk factors with the risk of Clostridium difficile infection. She concludes that the findings of the study are important and should serve as a wake-up call for institutions to participate actively in assessing and evaluating implementation of and adherence to CDI prevention practices.
AHRQ-funded; HS023791.
Citation: Safdar N, Perencevich E .
Crossing the quality chasm for Clostridium difficile infection prevention.
BMJ Qual Saf 2015 Jul;24(7):409-11. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2015-004344..
Keywords: Clostridium difficile Infections, Risk, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Prevention