Prevention of C. diff Infections in Hospitals Achieved in New York with Collaborative Intervention

Newswise — CHICAGO, June 2, 2014 – In the past decade, the incidence and severity of hospital acquired Clostridium difficile (CDI) infections has increased dramatically in the United States. Research reported in the Journal for Healthcare Quality (JHQ), however, demonstrates that a collaborative multi-hospital model using standardized clinical infection and environmental cleaning programs can be effective in controlling the spread of this pathogen.

JHQ is the peer-reviewed publication of the National Association for Health Care Quality (NAHQ, www.nahq.org).

Treating CDI and its complications costs the U.S. healthcare system more than $3.2 billion annually, and mortality is now estimated at 23.7 deaths per million. Therefore, interventions that interrupt CDI transmission are a critical component of CDI prevention programs.

The study reported the outcome of a collaborative program in which 35 acute care hospitals in the New York metropolitan area participated in a comprehensive CDI reduction intervention and formed multidisciplinary teams to implement the program. New York has the highest CDI infection rate in the United States. Participating institutions were almost exclusively teaching hospitals with more than 100 beds. Standardized clinical infection prevention and environmental cleaning protocols were adopted and monitored using checklists.

Outcomes for the program showed that it achieved a significant reduction in the incidence of hospital-onset CDI. Participating hospitals had 1,084 fewer cases of hospital-onset CDI than expected, with a total estimated cost savings of $2.7 million to $6.8 million. This reduction occurred without any interventions intended to alter antimicrobial prescribing practices and without adding extensive new resources.

“Interventions to interrupt and prevent C. diff transmission maybe more successful when implemented on a regional basis, which suggests that community and regional factors, including transferring patients between healthcare facilities, contributes to the epidemiology of C. diff and other healthcare-associated pathogens,” said lead author Brian S. Koll, M.D., chief, infection prevention, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York.

About the Journal of Healthcare QualityThe Journal for Healthcare Quality (JHQ) is the first choice for creative and scientific solutions in the pursuit of healthcare quality. JHQ is peer reviewed and published six times a year. JHQ publishes scholarly articles targeted to leaders of all healthcare settings, leveraging applied research and producing practical, timely, and impactful evidence in healthcare system transformation covering topics in: quality improvement, patient safety, performance measurement, best practices in clinical and operational processes, innovation, leadership, information technology, spreading improvement, sustaining improvement, cost reduction, and payment reform.

About NAHQFounded in 1976 and covering a full spectrum of healthcare specialties, the National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ) is an essential and interactive resource for quality and patient safety professionals worldwide. NAHQ’s vision is to realize the promise of healthcare improvement through innovative practices in quality and patient safety.

NAHQ’s 12,000-plus members and certificants benefit from cutting edge education and NAHQ’s unique collective body of knowledge, as well as opportunities to learn from a diverse group of professionals. These resources help assure success for implementing improvements in quality outcomes and patient safety, navigating the changing healthcare landscape, and serving as the voice of quality.

Visit www.nahq.org to learn more.