New York hospitals team up to reduce Clostridium difficile infections

There is an urgent need to implement evidence-based strategies that effectively prevent Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) transmission and infection because of the increasing incidence, severity, and costs in the United States. In March 2008, the Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYHA) and United Hospital Fund (UHF) collaborated with New York State Department of Health to begin the Clostridium difficile Collaborative. The collaborative project aimed to reduce hospital-associated C. difficile by implementing an evidence-based “prevention bundle” and standardized daily and terminal environmental cleaning protocols. The prevention bundle included the following:

  • Placing patients on contact precautions at symptom onset
  • Monitoring the availability and use of personal protective equipment
  • Monitoring hand hygiene
  • Dedicating thermometers for C. difficile patients
  • Implementing a patient placement strategy to optimize the use of private rooms or cohort patients when necessary (no sharing of bathrooms)

PHPSFF New York State v2

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(2012) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention