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. 2021 Jul;27(7):1776-1782.
doi: 10.3201/eid2707.200209.

Risks and Preventive Strategies for Clostridioides difficile Transmission to Household or Community Contacts during Transition in Healthcare Settings

Ramin Asgary, Jessica A Snead, Nabeel A Wahid, Vicky Ro, Marina Halim, Judy C Stribling

Risks and Preventive Strategies for Clostridioides difficile Transmission to Household or Community Contacts during Transition in Healthcare Settings

Ramin Asgary et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2021 Jul.

Abstract

The burden of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) has greatly increased. We evaluated the risks for CDI transmission to community members after hospitalized patients are discharged. We conducted a systematic literature review in MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL plus EBSCO, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and gray literature during January 2000‒February 2019 and identified 4,798 citations were identified. We eliminated 4,554 citations through title and abstract screening; 217 additional citations did not meet full criteria. We reviewed texts for the 27 remaining articles qualitatively for internal/external validity. A few identified studies describing risks to community members lacked accurate risk measurement or preventative strategies. Primary data are needed to assess efficacy of and inform current expertise-driven CDI prevention practices. Raising awareness among providers and researchers, conducting clinical and health services research, linking up integrated monitoring and evaluation processes at hospitals and outpatient settings, and developing and integrating CDI surveillance systems are warranted.

Keywords: CDI; Clostridioides difficile; Clostridioides difficile infection; bacteria; community; community contacts; healthcare settings; household; household contacts; infection; preventive strategies; risks; systematic review; transition; transmission.

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Figures

Figure
Figure
Process of selecting studies suitable for inclusion in the final review of the literature on prevention and treatment/management of Clostridioides difficile infection to family members and community from an index hospital patient, by database, September 2019.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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