Open AccessFirst outbreak of Clostridium difficile infections in Serbia: An experience of the department for orthopedic surgery
Author(s) -
Biljana Mijović,
Ljiljana Marković-Denić,
Dušica Banković-Lazarević,
Maja Račić
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of epidemiological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2377-9330
pISSN - 2377-9306
DOI - 10.5430/jer.v5n1p50
Subject(s) - medicine , clostridium difficile , outbreak , incidence (geometry) , orthopedic surgery , infection control , antimicrobial stewardship , retrospective cohort study , logistic regression , epidemiology , antibiotics , emergency medicine , intensive care medicine , surgery , antibiotic resistance , virology , microbiology and biotechnology , physics , optics , biology
Objectives: Increased C. difficile infection rates were observed during the last decade, as well as the onset of complicated forms of the disease. The primary objective of this study was to report the first outbreak of C. difficile in a Serbian hospital, aiming to determine clinical and environmental factors associated with the outbreak. The secondary objective was to describe outbreak control measures taken.Design: The retrospective cohort study conducted from 18 April to 22 May 2013 in Serbian healthcare. Ninety-five patients hospitalized at the Department for orthopedic surgery during the CDI outbreak.Results: Prophylactic antibiotic therapy was identified among 93.3% patients with and 87.9% without C. difficile infection. The multivariate logistic regression analysis has shown that the independent risk factors for C. difficile infection incidence are the age beyond 70 (OR = 4.5; 95%CI = 1.1-18.2; p = .031) and the length of antibiotic therapy (OR = 1.5; 95%CI = 1.1-2.1; p = .017).Conclusion: The length of antibiotic prophylaxis is linked with the incidence. Orthopedic departments have a risk of C. difficileinfection. Infection control measure, antimicrobial stewardship programs and compliance to guidelines for the prescribing of antibiotics play important role in the prevention of C. difficile infection burden.