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CDC Warns of Historically High Infections due to C. diff

EMSL Analytical offers environmental testing services to identify Clostridium difficile in the indoor environment to help prevent outbreaks.


WEBWIRE

Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a report about preventing Clostridium difficile (C. diff) infections.  The report indicated that the incidence, mortality and medical costs associated with infections have reached historic highs.
 
Clostridium difficile is a bacterium that causes serious human infections. C. diff infections cause diarrhea and more serious intestinal conditions such as colitis.  It is a major culprit for healthcare associated infections (HAIs) and has been increasingly identified as a community acquired infection.
 
According to the report:
 
·        Clostridium difficile infections (CDIs) increased several fold in the past decade and became more serious, but are nonetheless preventable.
·        Of all CDIs, 94% are related to healthcare exposures and are potentially preventable by reducing unnecessary antibiotic use and interrupting patient-to-patient transmission of C. difficile.
·        CDIs were reduced by 20% over approximately 21 months by 71 hospitals participating in prevention programs focused primarily on infection control strategies (e.g. early reliable detection, isolation, and enhanced environmental cleaning).
·        Of all healthcare associated CDIs, 75% have their onset outside of hospitals, and 52% of the CDIs treated in hospitals are present on admission; these infections are a potential source for intrahospital transmission.
 
C. diff is a spore-forming, gram-positive anaerobic bacillus that produces two exotoxins: toxin A and toxin B,” reported Jason Dobranic, Ph.D., National Microbiology Director at EMSL Analytical, Inc., a leading microbial pathogen and indoor air quality (IAQ) testing laboratory.  “Testing for the pathogen in indoor environments, especially healthcare environments can help prevent its spread and needless human suffering and medical costs.  EMSL can also provide testing services to determine the efficacy of antimicrobials and disinfectants against C. diff.”
 
EMSL recently sponsored an educational video about Clostridium difficile.  It can be seen at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsdMxDmzOMM
 
To learn more about testing for microbial pathogens, IAQ or other environmental issues, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email info@EMSL.com.
 

 
About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider of environmental and materials testing services and products to professionals and the general public.  The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies. 



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 c. difficile
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 testing
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 bacteria


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