Deadly Diarrhea Germ Spreading

CDC Report: Deadly diarrhea germ spreading across medical facilities

According to a new Vital Signs report today from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, infections from Clostridium difficile (C. difficile), a bacteria that causes diarrhea and other health issues, is a patient safety concern in all types of medical facilities, not just hospitals as traditionally thought. While many healthcare-associated infections, such as bloodstream infections, declined in the past decade, C. difficile infection rates and deaths climbed to historic highs.

The report highlights:

• C. difficile infections are linked to 14,000 deaths in the US each year.
• Deaths related to C. difficile increased 400% between 2000 and 2007, due in part to a stronger germ strain.
• Most C. difficile infections are connected with receiving medical care.
• Almost half of infections occur in people younger than 65, but more than 90% of deaths occur in people 65 and older.
• About 25% of C. difficile infections first show symptoms in hospital patients; 75% first show in nursing home patients or in people recently cared for in doctors' offices and clinics.
• C. difficile infections can be prevented.  Early results from hospital prevention projects show 20% fewer C. difficile infections in less than 2 years with infection prevention and control  measures.

CDC Vital Signs reports on a single, compelling public health topic each month.  To view the CDC Vital Signs Report and website, please see www.cdc.gov/VitalSigns.