ECDC calls for review of infection control measures
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has recommended that a careful review of infection control measures be carried out following recent outbreaks of the Clostridium difficile bacterium across several countries in Europe. The review was proposed in an ECDC report entitled 'Infection control measures to limit the spread of Clostridium difficile'. The study was conducted by a group of leading European scientists working on behalf of the ECDC. Their task was to analyse existing protocols and make recommendations on infection control measures to limit the spread of C. difficile. By June of this year, multiple cases of clostridium difficile had been reported across Europe; these reports revealed the emergence and spread of hyper-virulent new strains. One such strain, the most commonly noted, was the so-called PCR ribotype 027 which has been found in hospitals and care homes across Europe. These outbreaks of PCR ribotype 027 have even led to the death of those infected. Symptoms noted by patients include severe diarrhoea, sometimes leading to severe inflammation of the bowel. Speaking about the impact of the report, Zsuzsanna Jakab, the ECDC's Director said: 'The report on infection control measures to limit the spread of Clostridium difficile was stimulated by the increased incidence of Clostridium difficile in multiple institutions and countries across Europe. ECDC has recognized this emerging new disease and undertaken several actions to inform all EU Member States.' The ECDC is an EU agency specifically tasked with identifying, assessing and communicating threats to human health posed by infectious diseases. Outbreaks of infections such as C. difficile are difficult, but not impossible, to control. The spread can be managed and brought under control by combining rigorous infection control measures with appropriate use of antibiotics. 'The ECDC is currently financing a pan-European surveillance study to estimate the incidence of hospital and community acquired Clostridium difficile. The results will be available in 2009,' noted Zsuzsanna Jakab. 'We are also providing input to the European Commission, who are developing a policy proposal on patient safety in Europe.' The final recommendation of the report is that that all EU Member States should be aware of Clostridium difficile in healthcare facilities, and that they should pay particular attention to the PCR ribotype 027. In order to prevent the spread of the bacterium, evidence-based guidelines are to be implemented. These combine early diagnosis, surveillance, education of staff, appropriate isolation precautions, hand hygiene, use of protective clothing, environmental cleaning and cleaning of medical equipment, good antibiotic stewardship, and specific measures during outbreaks. The bacterium can be transmitted from patient to patient via the contaminated hands of healthcare workers or by environmental contamination. It is estimated that it is present in the gut of 3% of healthy adults and does not cause disease, though it is the leading cause of diarrhoea in healthcare facilities, mostly in elderly patients and is related to the use of antibiotics.