262 research outputs found
Bench-to-bedside review: Clostridium difficile colitis
In recent years, the incidence and severity of Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD) have increased dramatically. Beginning in 2000, widespread regional outbreaks associated with a previously uncommon hypervirulent strain of C. difficile have occurred in North America and Europe. Most likely because of increased toxin production as well as other virulence factors, this epidemic strain has caused more severe and refractory disease leading to complications, including intensive care unit admission, colectomies, and death. Worldwide increasing use of fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins has likely contributed to the proliferation of this epidemic strain, which is highly resistant to both. The elderly have been disproportionately affected by CDAD, but C. difficile has also recently emerged in populations previously considered to be at low risk, including healthy outpatients and peripartum women, although it is unknown if these cases are related to the epidemic strain. Nevertheless, transmission within hospitals is the major source of C. difficile acquisition, and previous or concurrent antimicrobial use is almost universal among cases. Applying current evidence-based strategies for management and prevention is critically important, and clinicians should maintain an awareness of the changing epidemiology of CDAD and take measures to reduce the risk of disease in patients
Staphylococcus aureusāassociated Skin and Soft Tissue Infections in Ambulatory Care
The rise in visits to outpatient and emergency departments for skin and soft tissue infections may reflect the emergence of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
ICD-9 Codes and Surveillance for Clostridium difficileāassociated Disease
We conducted a retrospective cohort study to compare Clostridium difficileāassociated disease rates determined by C. difficileātoxin assays and International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision (ICD-9) codes. The correlation between toxin assay results and ICD-9 codes was good (Īŗ = 0.72, p<0.01). The sensitivity of the ICD-9 codes was 78% and the specificity was 99.7%
Proficiency of clinical laboratories in and near Monterrey, Mexico, to detect vancomycin-resistant enterococci.
Early detection of vancomycin-resistant enterococci is important for preventing its spread among hospitalized patients. We surveyed the ability of eight hospital laboratories in and near Monterrey, Mexico, to detect vancomycin resistance in Enterococcus spp. and found that although laboratories can reliably detect high-level vancomycin resistance, many have difficulty detecting low-level resistance
The Clp1/Cdc14 phosphatase contributes to the robustness of cytokinesis by association with anillin-related Mid1
Cdc14 phosphatases antagonize cyclin-dependent kinaseādirected phosphorylation events and are involved in several facets of cell cycle control. We investigate the role of the fission yeast Cdc14 homologue Clp1/Flp1 in cytokinesis. We find that Clp1/Flp1 is tethered at the contractile ring (CR) through its association with anillin-related Mid1. Fluorescent recovery after photobleaching analyses indicate that Mid1, unlike other tested CR components, is anchored at the cell midzone, and this physical property is likely to account for its scaffolding role. By generating a mutation in mid1 that selectively disrupts Clp1/Flp1 tethering, we reveal the specific functional consequences of Clp1/Flp1 activity at the CR, including dephosphorylation of the essential CR component Cdc15, reductions in CR protein mobility, and CR resistance to mild perturbation. Our evidence indicates that Clp1/Flp1 must interact with the Mid1 scaffold to ensure the fidelity of Schizosaccharomyces pombe cytokinesis
Clostridium difficile in Retail Meat Products, USA, 2007
To determine the presence of Clostridium difficile, we sampled cooked and uncooked meat products sold in Tucson, Arizona. Forty-two percent contained toxigenic C. difficile strains (either ribotype 078/toxinotype V [73%] or 027/toxinotype III [NAP1 or NAP1-related; 27%]). These findings indicate that food products may play a role in interspecies C. difficile transmission
Clostridium difficile Infection in Patients Discharged from US Short-stay Hospitals, 1996ā20031
Clinicians should be aware of the increasing risk of C. difficileāassociated disease and make efforts to control its transmission
Strategies to prevent Clostridium difficile infections in acute care hospitals: 2014 update
Previously published guidelines are available that provide comprehensive recommendations for detecting and preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The intent of this document is to highlight practical recommendations in a concise format designed to assist acute care hospitals in implementing and prioritizing their Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) prevention efforts. This document updates āStrategies to Prevent Clostridium difficile Infections in Acute Care Hospitals,ā published in 2008. This expert guidance document is sponsored by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) and is the product of a collaborative effort led by SHEA, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), the American Hospital Association (AHA), the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), and The Joint Commission, with major contributions from representatives of a number of organizations and societies with content expertise. The list of endorsing and supporting organizations is presented in the introduction to the 2014 updates
Attributable Outcomes of Endemic Clostridium difficileāassociated Disease in Nonsurgical Patients
CDAD led to significantly worse outcomes in these patients
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