TY - JOUR
T1 - Acquisition of Clostridium difficile and Clostridium difficile- associated diarrhea in hospitalized patients receiving tube feeding
AU - Bliss, Donna Zimmaro
AU - Johnson, Stuart
AU - Savik, Kay
AU - Clabots, Connie R.
AU - Willard, Keith
AU - Gerding, Dale N.
PY - 1998/12/15
Y1 - 1998/12/15
N2 - Background: Clostridium difficile is the most common infectious cause of nosocomial diarrhea, but its role in diarrhea associated with tube feeding has not been rigorously investigated. Objective: To determine the incidence of C difficile acquisition and C. difficile-associated diarrhea in tube-fed and non-tube-fed patients. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: A university-affiliated Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Patients: 76 consecutive hospitalized, tube-fed patients and 76 hospitalized, non-tube- fed patients. The two cohorts were matched for age, unit location, duration of hospitalization before surveillance, and severity of illness. Measurements: Incidence of C. difficile acquisition, incidence of C difficile-associated diarrhea, and C. difficile restriction endonuclease analysis typing results. Results: More tube-fed patients than non-tube-fed patients acquired C. difficile (15 of 76 patients [20%] compared with 6 of 76 patients [8%]; P = 0.03) and developed C. difficile-associated diarrhea (7 of 76 patients [9%] compared with 1 of 76 patients [1%]; P = 0.03). The mean proportion (±SD) of surveillance days with diarrhea was greater for tube- fed patients after the development of C difficile-associated diarrhea than for tube-fed patients without this diarrhea (0.68 ± 0.4 compared with 0.22 ± 0.2 [95% CI for the mean difference, 0.08 to 0.84]). Postpyloric tube feeding (odds ratio, 3.14 [CI, 1,008 to 9.77]) and duration of surveillance (odds ratio, 1.08 [CI, 1.0009 to 1.16]) were risk factors for the acquisition of C. difficile. Nineteen restriction endonuclease analysis types of C. difficile were identified from 20 patients. Conclusions: Hospitalized, tube- fed patients, especially those receiving postpyloric tube feeding, are at greater risk for the acquisition of C. difficile and the development of C. difficile-associated diarrhea than are hospitalized, non-tube-fed patients. Clinicians should test for C. difficile in tube-fed patients with diarrhea.
AB - Background: Clostridium difficile is the most common infectious cause of nosocomial diarrhea, but its role in diarrhea associated with tube feeding has not been rigorously investigated. Objective: To determine the incidence of C difficile acquisition and C. difficile-associated diarrhea in tube-fed and non-tube-fed patients. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: A university-affiliated Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Patients: 76 consecutive hospitalized, tube-fed patients and 76 hospitalized, non-tube- fed patients. The two cohorts were matched for age, unit location, duration of hospitalization before surveillance, and severity of illness. Measurements: Incidence of C. difficile acquisition, incidence of C difficile-associated diarrhea, and C. difficile restriction endonuclease analysis typing results. Results: More tube-fed patients than non-tube-fed patients acquired C. difficile (15 of 76 patients [20%] compared with 6 of 76 patients [8%]; P = 0.03) and developed C. difficile-associated diarrhea (7 of 76 patients [9%] compared with 1 of 76 patients [1%]; P = 0.03). The mean proportion (±SD) of surveillance days with diarrhea was greater for tube- fed patients after the development of C difficile-associated diarrhea than for tube-fed patients without this diarrhea (0.68 ± 0.4 compared with 0.22 ± 0.2 [95% CI for the mean difference, 0.08 to 0.84]). Postpyloric tube feeding (odds ratio, 3.14 [CI, 1,008 to 9.77]) and duration of surveillance (odds ratio, 1.08 [CI, 1.0009 to 1.16]) were risk factors for the acquisition of C. difficile. Nineteen restriction endonuclease analysis types of C. difficile were identified from 20 patients. Conclusions: Hospitalized, tube- fed patients, especially those receiving postpyloric tube feeding, are at greater risk for the acquisition of C. difficile and the development of C. difficile-associated diarrhea than are hospitalized, non-tube-fed patients. Clinicians should test for C. difficile in tube-fed patients with diarrhea.
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U2 - 10.7326/0003-4819-129-12-199812150-00004
DO - 10.7326/0003-4819-129-12-199812150-00004
M3 - Article
C2 - 9867755
AN - SCOPUS:0032535407
SN - 0003-4819
VL - 129
SP - 1012
EP - 1019
JO - Annals of internal medicine
JF - Annals of internal medicine
IS - 12
ER -