Detection and Analysis of Clostridioides difficile Spores in a Hospital Environment

Zofia Maria Kiersnowska (), Ewelina Lemiech-Mirowska, Michał Michałkiewicz, Aleksandra Sierocka and Michał Marczak
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Zofia Maria Kiersnowska: Department of Management and Logistics in Healthcare, Medical University of Lodz, 90-419 Lodz, Poland
Ewelina Lemiech-Mirowska: Department of Management and Logistics in Healthcare, Medical University of Lodz, 90-419 Lodz, Poland
Michał Michałkiewicz: Institute of Environmental Engineering and Building Installations, Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Energy, Poznan University of Technology, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
Aleksandra Sierocka: Department of Management and Logistics in Healthcare, Medical University of Lodz, 90-419 Lodz, Poland
Michał Marczak: Department of Management and Logistics in Healthcare, Medical University of Lodz, 90-419 Lodz, Poland

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 23, 1-10

Abstract: Clostridioides difficile , due to its long survival time in a hospital environment, is considered to be one of the most frequent factors in healthcare-associated infections. Patient care requires not only rapid and accurate diagnosis, but also knowledge of individual risk factors for infections, e.g., with C. difficile , in various clinical conditions. The goal of this study was to analyse the degree of contamination of a hospital environment with C. difficile spores. Culturing was performed using C diff Banana Broth TM medium, which enables germination of the spores of these bacteria. Samples were collected from inanimate objects within a hospital environment in a specialist hospital in Poland. The results of the study demonstrated the presence of 18 positive samples of Clostridioides spp. (15.4%). Of these, C. difficile spores were detected in six samples, Clostridioides perfringens in eight samples, Clostridioides sporogenes in two samples and Clostridioides innocuum and Clostridioides baratii in one sample each. Among the six samples of C. difficile , a total of four strains which produce the B toxin were cultured. The binary toxin related to ribotype 027 was not detected in our study. Nosocomial infection risk management is a significant problem, mainly concerning the issues of hygiene maintenance, cleaning policy and quality control, and awareness of infection risk.

Keywords: patient safety; risk management; Clostridioides difficile spores; C diff Banana Broth (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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