| Title | Clostridium difficile: how much do hospital staff know about it? | | Author(s) | Aroori S, Blencowe N, Pye G, West R | | Source | Ann R Coll Surg Engl 2009 Jun 25. | | Abstract | INTRODUCTION The aim of this study was to determine the awareness of Clostridium difficile infection amongst healthcareprofessionals.SUBJECTS AND
METHODS A total of 132 healthcare professionals (18 consultants, 40 trainee doctors, and 74 nursing staff) inour hospital were randomly surveyed using a questionnaire consisting of 17 questions covering various aspects of C. difficile.
RESULTS More than 50% of healthcare professionals correctly identified C. difficile as an anaerobic bacillus. Half of the consultantsand one-third of the trainees and nurses were aware that 5% of adults carry C. difficile in the gut. Overall, 80% ofdoctors and 40% of nursing staff (P = 0.001) were aware of the spectrum of illnesses caused by C. difficile. Seven (39%)consultants, 25 (63%) trainees, and 26 (37%) nurses correctly identified the various predisposing factors for the acquisitionof C. difficile infection. Only one-third of doctors and 8% of nursing staff were aware that antibiotic restriction was the singlemost effective C. difficile infection control measure. In addition, 40% of doctors and 8% of nursing staff were aware that cytotoxinassay is the gold standard diagnostic test. Less than 30% of healthcare professionals were aware of the differencesbetween the most common strain and the strain of C. difficile responsible for recent outbreaks. Only 6 (33%) consultants, 21(53%) trainees (P = not significant), and 28 (38%) nursing staff were aware that hand washing with soap and water is themost effective way of preventing transmission of C. difficile infection. Results showed that 93% of trainees, 78% of consultants(P = 0.05) and 70% of nurses correctly answered that oral metronidazole is the drug of choice for the treatment of C. difficileinfection. Compared to 73% of trainees, only two (11%) consultants (P < 0.0001) and 20 (27%) nursing staff correctlystated that oral vancomycin is the second-line treatment for persistent symptomatic C. difficile infection.
CONCLUSIONS There is a significant lack of knowledge concerning C. difficile infection amongst healthcare professions, in particularamongst consultants and nurses in our hospital. | | Language | ENG | | Pub Type(s) | JOURNAL ARTICLE
| | PubMed ID | 19558760 |
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