Clostridium difficile Infection Outbreak in Pregnant Women
Author Information
Author(s): Jennifer A. Unger, Estella Whimbey, Michael G. Gravett, David A. Eschenbach
Primary Institution: University of Washington
Hypothesis
What are the risk factors and clinical manifestations of Clostridium difficile infections among peripartum women?
Conclusion
The outbreak of Clostridium difficile infections among peripartum women was reduced after implementing infection control measures and modifying antibiotic use.
Supporting Evidence
- 20 peripartum CDI cases were identified during the outbreak.
- The incidence of CDI was 7.5 cases per 1000 deliveries.
- CDI was significantly associated with cesarean delivery and antibiotic use.
- Implementation of infection control measures reduced the outbreak.
- Sporadic CDI cases continued for 8 months after the outbreak measures.
Takeaway
Some women who just had babies got really sick from a germ called C. difficile, but doctors found ways to help stop it from spreading.
Methodology
A case-control study was conducted comparing peripartum CDI cases to unmatched controls, with data abstracted from medical records.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in selecting controls and retrospective data collection.
Limitations
The study was limited to a single institution and may not be generalizable to other settings.
Participant Demographics
The study included peripartum women with a mean age of 30.6 years, with a majority being Caucasian.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI 2.9–39.9
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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