Increasing Incidence of Clostridium difficile Disease in Singapore
Author Information
Author(s): Lim Poh Lian, Barkham Timothy M.S., Ling Li Min, Dimatatac Frederico, Alfred Tamuno, Ang Brenda
Primary Institution: Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
Hypothesis
What are the risk factors for testing positive for Clostridium difficile toxin among hospitalized patients in Singapore?
Conclusion
The study found a four-fold increase in the incidence of Clostridium difficile-associated disease among hospitalized patients in Singapore from 2001 to 2006.
Supporting Evidence
- CDAD incidence rose from 1.49 to 6.64 cases per 10,000 patient-days from 2001 to 2006.
- The percentage of CDT-positive samples increased from 7% to 11% during the same period.
- Longer hospital stays were associated with positive CDT results.
Takeaway
The number of people getting sick from a certain germ in Singapore's hospitals has gone up a lot over the years, and we need to be careful about it.
Methodology
The study calculated incidence rates and conducted a case-control study comparing CDT-positive patients with negative controls.
Potential Biases
Potential bias from using hospital records and the selection of controls.
Limitations
The study was limited to one hospital and may not represent the entire population of Singapore.
Participant Demographics
Patients hospitalized at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, from 2001 to 2006.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.01
Confidence Interval
95% CI 1.01–6.63
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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