Hospital-onset Clostridium Difficile Infection Research Articles

The Burden of Clostridioides Difficile Infection during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Case-Control Study in Italian Hospitals (CloVid)

Data on the burden of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients are scant. We conducted an observational, retrospective, multicenter, 1:3 case (COVID-19 patients with CDI)-control (COVID-19 patients without CDI) study in Italy to assess incidence and outcomes, and to identify risk factors for CDI in COVID-19 patients. From February through July 2020, 8402 COVID-19 patients were admitted to eight Italian hospitals; 38 CDI cases were identified, including 32 hospital-onset-CDI (HO-CDI) and 6 community-onset, healthcare-associated-CDI (CO-HCA-CDI). HO-CDI incidence was 4.4 × 10,000 patient-days. The percentage of cases recovering without complications at discharge (i.e., pressure ulcers, chronic heart decompensation) was lower than among controls (p = 0.01); in-hospital stays was longer among cases, 35.0 versus 19.4 days (p = 0.0007). The presence of a previous hospitalisation (p = 0.001), previous steroid administration (p = 0.008) and the administration of antibiotics during the stay (p = 0.004) were risk factors associated with CDI. In conclusions, CDI complicates COVID-19, mainly in patients with co-morbidities and previous healthcare exposures. Its association with antibiotic usage and hospital acquired bacterial infections should lead to strengthen antimicrobial stewardship programmes and infection prevention and control activities.

The use of laboratory-identified event surveillance to classify adverse outcomes due to Clostridioides difficile infection in Canadian long-term care facilities.

Adverse outcomes following Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) are not often reported for long-term care facility (LTCF) residents. We focused on the adverse outcomes due to CDI identified in Alberta LTCFs. All positive Clostridioides difficile stool specimens identified by laboratory-identified (LabID) event surveillance in Alberta from 2011 to 2018, along with Alberta Continuing Care Information System, were used to define CDI in Alberta LTCFs. CDI cases were classified as long-term care onset, hospital onset, and community onset. Laboratory records were linked to provincial databases to analyze acute-care admissions and mortality within 30-day post CDI. Age, sex, case classification, episode, and operator type, were investigated using logistic regression. Overall, 902 CDI cases were identified in 762 LTCF residents. Of all CDI events, 860 (95.3%) were long-term care onset, 38 (4.2%) were hospital onset, and 4 (0.4%) were community onset. The CDI rate was 2.0 of 100,000 resident days. In total, 157 residents (20.6%) had 30-day all-cause mortality, 126 CDI cases (14.0%) had 30-day all-cause acute-care admissions. The 30-day all-cause mortality rate was significantly higher in residents aged >80 versus ≤80 years (24.9 vs 12.3 per 100 residents; P < .05). Residents aged >80 years, with hospital-onset CDI, and those staying in private or voluntary LTCFs were more likely to have 30-day all-cause acute-care admissions. The prevalence of CDI adverse outcomes is in LTCFs was found to be high using LabID event surveillance. Annual review of CDI adverse outcomes using LabID event can minimize the burden of surveillance and standardize the process across all Alberta LTCFs.

Infection Preventionist Run Clostridioides difficile Testing Diagnostic Stewardship Protocol- Experience From a Rural Community Hospital

Background: Distinguishing active Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) from asymptomatic colonization remains a challenging task in the era of PCR testing. Inappropriate testing leads to overtesting and overdiagnosis, inadvertent treatment, and isolation in addition to laboratory identified (LabID) events, leading to increased incidence to hospital-onset CDI (HO-CDI). The institution has a nurse-driven C. difficile test ordering protocol, and we noted a significant increase in the HO-CDI incidence in 2017 due to inappropriate testing, with rates as high as 0.94 per 1,000 patient days. Methods: In September 2017, a multidisciplinary team reviewed and initiated algorithm-based testing with mandatory audit and review by infection preventionists (IPs) under the guidance of an ID physician of all ordered tests. They reviewed the adequacy and legitimacy of order for multiple parameters, including minimum 3 loose stools in 24 hours, use of laxatives in last 24 hours, consistency of the sample, presence of at least 1 clinical parameters (ie, fever, abdominal pain, leukocytosis, sepsis, or septic shock), recent or concomitant antibiotic use, recent PCR testing in the last 14 days, and chart review for medical and/or surgical history. The IPs served as the gatekeepers to testing and rejected the samples that were deemed inappropriate. Ambiguous cases were discussed with the ID specialist. On the microscope lab side, all specimens sent were batched to be run twice a day at 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., and testing was performed only on the samples cleared by infection preventionists. Results: The number of PCR tests completed in the comparison quarter of 2016 was 220, which decreased to 157 tests in 2017 with a reduction of 28%. After a full year of implementation of the diagnostic stewardship protocol, the number of completed PCR tests decreased to 626 from 940 PCR tests in 2016, with an overall 34% decrease in testing. In the year following the implementation of diagnostic stewardship, HO-CDI decreased from 60 events in 2017 to 43 events in 2018, with a reduction of 28%. Subsequently, HO-CDI further decreased in 2019 from 43 to 28, with a reduction of 35%. Since the implementation of the project in 2017, HO-CDIs have decreased by 54% overall. The reduction in 314 C. difficile PCR tests in the first year led to a savings of $8,300 in laboratory testing supplies. The reduction of HO CDI by 17 led to cost avoidance of $293,420. Conclusions: Our experience shows that the IP-run diagnostic stewardship program was highly successful in streamlining testing, with cost savings on several fronts.Funding: NoneDisclosures: NoneDisclosures:Commercial Company : If I am presenting research funded by a commercial company, the information presented will be based on generally accepted scientific principals and methods, and will not promote the commercial interest of the funding company.DisagreeRaghavendra Tirupathi

Implement Electronic Decision Support to Decrease Hospital-Onset Clostridium difficile Infections at Two Community Hospitals

Background: Literature supports appropriate testing as a key factor affecting the hospital-onset (HO) Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) standardized infection ratio (SIR). In 2016, facility A was a significant outlier in HO CDI with an SIR of 2.57. In 2017, facility B had a peak SIR of 1.9. Both SIRs were considerably higher than the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) national SIR of 0.997. Methods: Hospital-onset CDIF cases from both hospitals were reviewed. Current electronic decision support in the electronic health record (EHR) was evaluated for CDI laboratory orders. Literature was reviewed for best practice of appropriate specimen collection and testing. Interventions were implemented at facility A in November 2016 and facility B in June 2018. Results: In total, 67 HO CDIF cases were reviewed from both facilities (October 2015–September 2016 for facility A and April 2017–June 2018 for facility B), and 46% were due to inappropriate testing. A CDI testing order set with decision support and best practice alerts was implemented based on national best-practice guidelines (Fig. 1). Physician and nurse education were completed on appropriate testing for CDI, including symptoms and timely specimen collection. Real-time review of appropriate testing was validated by the infection prevention team, and outliers were communicated to the ordering provider. After implementation, decreases in HO-CDIF SIRs occurred at both facilities (facility A SIR, 0.36; facility B SIR, 0.56). Both facilities have been able to sustain an SIR below the current CMS national average of 0.784. Conclusions: By implementing a sophisticated order-entry process that includes electronic decision support based on best practices, clinician education, and real-time feedback to providers, patients are appropriately tested for CDI. This intervention has allowed for appropriate classification within the NHSN and has decreased the overall HO-CDIF SIR.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

Association Between Federal Value-Based Incentive Program Implementation and Hospital-Onset C. difficile Infection Rates

Background: The Hospital-Acquired Conditions Reduction Program (HACRP) and Hospital Value-Based Purchasing (HVBP) are federal value-based incentive programs that financially reward or penalize hospitals based on quality metrics. Hospital-onset C. difficile infection (HO-CDI) rates reported to the CDC NHSN became a target quality metric for both HACRP and HVBP in October 2016, but the impact of these programs on HO-CDI rates is unknown. Methods: We used an interrupted time-series design to examine the association between HACRP/HVBP implementation in October 2016 and quarterly rates of HO-CDI per 10,000 patient days among incentive-eligible acute-care hospitals conducting facility-wide HO-CDI NHSN surveillance between January 2013 and March 2019. Generalized estimating equations were used to fit negative binomial regression models to assess for immediate program impact (ie, level change) and changes in the slope of HO-CDI rates, controlling for each hospital’s predominant method for CDI testing (nucleic acid amplification including PCR (NAAT), enzyme immunoassay for toxin (EIA), or other testing method including cell cytotoxicity neutralization assay and toxigenic culture). Results: Of the 265 study hospitals studied, most were medium-sized (100–399 beds, 55%), not-for-profit (77%), teaching hospitals (70%), and were located in a metropolitan area (87%). Compared to EIA, rates of HO-CDI were higher when detected by NAAT (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.55; 95% CI, 1.41–1.70) or other testing methods (IRR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.26–1.71). Controlling for CDI testing methods, HACRP/HVBP implementation was associated with an immediate 6% decline in HO-CDI rates (IRR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.89–0.99) and a 4% decline in slope per year-quarter thereafter (IRR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.95–0.97) (Fig. 1). Conclusions: HACRP/HVBP implementation was associated with both immediate and gradual improvements in HO-CDI rates, independent of CDI testing methods of differing sensitivity. Future research may evaluate the precise mechanisms underlying this improvement and if this impact is sustained in the long term.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

Mitigating Hospital-Onset Clostridioides difficile: Evaluation of a Standardized Environmental Hygiene Program in Eight Hospitals

Background: Despite ongoing efforts over the past 3 decades, hospital-onset Clostridioides difficile infection (HO-CDI) continues to challenge interventions aimed at its prevention and control. We describe the impact of a model environmental services (EVS) program on the incidence of HO-CDI across 8 hospitals that are part of a nationwide integrated health system. Methods: Eight acute-care hospitals with 44–532 beds (mean, 263 beds) in 6 states with stable endemic HO-CDI incidence densities independently implemented identical sporicidal environmental hygiene interventions in 2017. The program combined the use of a hydrogen peroxide/peroxyacetic acid surface disinfectant for all patient-zone hygienic cleaning combined with a structured model EVS cleaning program that included optimized cleaning and disinfection technique, staff training, and auditing with objective performance feedback, which aligned with 2008 HICPAC/CDC categories I and II as well as 2010 CDC Guidance Level II monitoring program recommendations. After a 3-month phase-in, we compared NHSN-reported LabID HO-CDI SIRs for 18 months before and 12 months after implementation of the program. Results were not shared between sites and data were not collated by the authors until a year after the postintervention results were initially available. Multiple possible confounding factors were evaluated and determined not to have identifiably affected the outcome. Results: Mean preintervention HO-CDI SIRs over the 18 months measured ranged from 0.5 to 1.4 (mean, 1.0 for the group). Following the wash-in period, SIRs decreased precipitously in all sites to a mean of 0.42 for the group by the end of 12 months of the intervention. (P &lt; .0001) (Fig. 1). Individual site improvement ranged from 20% to 92% (mean, 57%) (Fig. 2.) Conclusions: Overall, HO-CDI SIRs decreased almost 60% in the study hospitals following daily sporicidal disinfection cleaning of all patient-zone surfaces in association with ongoing programmatic optimization of cleaning practice. As predicted by earlier single-site studies reporting a favorable impact of sporicidal disinfectant cleaning in outbreak settings, this multisite quasi-experimental study has illustrated the substantial potential impact of hospital-wide sporicidal disinfection integrated with objectively sustained optimized thoroughness of cleaning to decrease the incidence of HO-CDI.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

Trends in Hospital Onset Clostridioides difficile Infection Incidence, National Healthcare Safety Network, 2010–2018

Background:Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is one of the most common laboratory-identified (LabID) healthcare-associated events reported to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). CDI prevention remains a national priority, and efforts to reduce infection burden and improve antibiotic stewardship continue to expand across the healthcare spectrum. Beginning in 2013, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) required acute-care hospitals participating in CMS’ Inpatient Quality Reporting program to report CDI LabID data to NHSN and, in 2015, extended this reporting requirement to emergency departments (ED) and 24-hour observation units. To assess national progress, we evaluated changes in hospital onset CDI (HO-CDI) incidence during 2010–2018. Methods: Cases of HO-CDI were reported to NHSN by hospitals using the NHSN’s LabID criteria. Generalized linear mixed-effects modeling was used to assess trends of HO-CDI by treating the hospital as a random intercept to account for the correlation of the repeated responses over time. The data were summarized at the quarterly level, the main effect was time, and the covariates of interest were the following: CDI test type, inpatient community-onset (CO) infection rate, hospital type, average length of stay, medical school affiliation, number of beds, number of ICU beds, number of infection control professionals, presence of an ED or observation unit , and an indicator for 2015 to account for CDI protocol changes that required hospitals to conduct surveillance in both inpatient and ED or observation unit setting. Results: During 2010–2013, the number of hospitals reporting CDI increased and then stabilized after 2013 (Table 1). Crude HO-CDI rates decreased over time, except for an increase in 2015 and steeper reduction thereafter. (Table 2). During 2010–2014, the adjusted quarterly rate of change was −0.45% (95% CI, −0.57% to −0.33%; P &lt; .0001). The rate of reduction was smaller in 2010–2014 compared to those of 2015–2018 (−2.82%; 95% CI, −3.10% to −2.54%; P &lt; .0001). Compared to 2014, the adjusted rate in 2015 increased by 79.14% (95% CI, 72.42%–86.11%; P &lt; .0001). Conclusions: The number of hospitals reporting CDI LabID data grew substantially in 2013 as a result of the CMS requirement for reporting. Adjusted HO-CDI rates decreased over time, with a rate hike in the year of 2015 and a rapid decrease thereafter. The increase in 2015 may be explained by changes in the NHSN CDI surveillance protocol and better test type classification in later years. Overall decreases in HO-CDI rates may be influenced by prevention strategies.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

Effectiveness of Ultraviolet-C Room Disinfection on Preventing Healthcare-Associated Clostridioides difficile Infection

Background: Enhanced terminal room cleaning with ultraviolet C (UVC) disinfection has become more commonly used as a strategy to reduce the transmission of important nosocomial pathogens, including Clostridioides difficile, but the real-world effectiveness remains unclear. Objectives: We aimed to assess the association of UVC disinfection during terminal cleaning with the incidence of healthcare-associated C. difficile infection and positive test results for C. difficile within the nationwide Veterans Health Administration (VHA) System. Methods: Using a nationwide survey of VHA system acute-care hospitals, information on UV-C system utilization and date of implementation was obtained. Hospital-level incidence rates of clinically confirmed hospital-onset C. difficile infection (HO-CDI) and positive test results with recent healthcare exposures (both hospital-onset [HO-LabID] and community-onset healthcare-associated [CO-HA-LabID]) at acute-care units between January 2010 and December 2018 were obtained through routine surveillance with bed days of care (BDOC) as the denominator. We analyzed the association of UVC disinfection with incidence rates of HO-CDI, HO-Lab-ID, and CO-HA-LabID using a nonrandomized, stepped-wedge design, using negative binomial regression model with hospital-specific random intercept, the presence or absence of UVC disinfection use for each month, with baseline trend and seasonality as explanatory variables. Results: Among 143 VHA acute-care hospitals, 129 hospitals (90.2%) responded to the survey and were included in the analysis. UVC use was reported from 42 hospitals with various implementation start dates (range, June 2010 through June 2017). We identified 23,021 positive C. difficile test results (HO-Lab ID: 5,014) with 16,213 HO-CDI and 24,083,252 BDOC from the 129 hospitals during the study period. There were declining baseline trends nationwide (mean, −0.6% per month) for HO-CDI. The use of UV-C had no statistically significant association with incidence rates of HO-CDI (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.032; 95% CI, 0.963–1.106; P = .65) or incidence rates of healthcare-associated positive C. difficile test results (HO-Lab). Conclusions: In this large quasi-experimental analysis within the VHA System, the enhanced terminal room cleaning with UVC disinfection was not associated with the change in incidence rates of clinically confirmed hospital-onset CDI or positive test results with recent healthcare exposure. Further research is needed to understand reasons for lack of effectiveness, such as understanding barriers to utilization.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

Appropriateness of C. difficile Testing With Clinical Support Tool Versus Mandatory Infectious Diseases Attending Approval

Background: In an effort to reduce inappropriate testing of hospital-onset Clostridioides difficile infection (HO-CDI), we sequentially implemented 2 strategies: an electronic health record-based clinical decision support tool that alerted ordering physicians about potentially inappropriate testing without a hard stop (intervention period 1), replaced by mandatory infectious diseases attending physician approval for any HO-CDI test order (intervention period 2). We analyzed appropriate HO-CDI testing rates of both intervention periods. Methods: We performed a retrospective study of patients 18 years or older who had an HO-CDI test (performed after hospital day 3) during 3 different periods: baseline (no intervention, September 2014–February 2015), intervention 1 (clinical decision support tool only, April 2015–September 2015), and intervention 2 (ID approval only, December 2017–September 2018). From each of the 3 periods, we randomly selected 150 patients who received HO-CDI testing (450 patients total). We restricted the study to the general medicine, bone marrow transplant, medical intensive care, and neurosurgical intensive care units. We assessed each HO-CDI test for appropriateness (see Table 1 for criteria), and we compared rates of appropriateness using the χ2 test or Kruskall-Wallis test, where appropriate. Results: In our cohort of 450 patients, the median age was 61 years, and the median hospital length of stay was 20 days. The median hospital day that HO-CDI testing was performed differed among the 3 groups: 12 days at baseline, 10 days during intervention 1, and 8.5 days during intervention 2 (P &lt; .001). Appropriateness of HO-CDI testing increased from the baseline with both interventions, but mandatory ID approval was associated with the highest rate of testing appropriateness (Fig. 1). Reasons for inappropriate ordering did not differ among the periods, with &lt;3 documented stools being the most common criterion for inappropriateness. During intervention 2, among the 33 inappropriate tests, 8 (24%) occurred where no approval from an ID attending was recorded. HO-CDI test positivity rates during the 3 time periods were 12%, 11%, and 21%, respectively (P = .03). Conclusions: We found that both the clinical decision support tool and mandatory ID attending physician approval interventions improved appropriateness of HO-CDI testing. Mandatory ID attending physician approval leading to the highest appropriateness rate. Even with mandatory ID attending physician approval, some tests continued to be ordered inappropriately per retrospective chart review; we suspect that this is partly explained by underdocumentation of criteria such as stool frequency. In healthcare settings where appropriateness of HO-CDI testing is not optimal, mandatory ID attending physician approval may provide an option beyond clinical decision-support tools.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

Developing a Public Health Model for Regional Infection Prevention Collaboration Among Healthcare Facility Networks

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AR), including Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), can spread across the healthcare continuum when patients move between facilities. In 2015, the CDC recommended that healthcare facilities (HCFs) and local public health departments (LPH) coordinate their efforts to prevent the spread of AR and CDI. Accordingly, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Program developed a model for implementing regionally based AR/CDI prevention collaboratives within HCF networks. Methods: The CDPH HAI Program began identifying regions in California with high AR/CDI incidence or risk for AR/CDI emergence using NHSN data. During 2015–2019, we organized AR/CDI prevention collaboratives in these regions. We recruited HCFs for participation by presenting at local professional organization meetings and engaging skilled nursing facility corporate leadership. HAI Program infection preventionists conducted onsite infection prevention assessments at each participating HCF. HAI Program and LPH staff convened quarterly in-person learning and discussion sessions focused on infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship best practices. Participating HCFs committed to facility-tailored process improvement plans and conducted self-assessments to evaluate infection prevention practice changes at the conclusion of the collaborative. For CDI-focused collaboratives, we used data reported to CDPH via NHSN to assess changes in hospital- and community-onset CDI incidence among participating hospitals before and after the collaboratives. Results: Since 2015, 205 HCFs in 15 LPH jurisdictions have participated in 6 regional AR/CDI prevention collaboratives. Participating HCFs reported improved implementation of AR/CDI prevention strategies. For CDI-focused collaboratives, hospital-onset CDI incidence decreased by ~3% per month among participating hospitals. The collaboratives created forums for communication and relationship building, which previously did not exist among LPH and the HCF networks. We used our experience and feedback from partners to develop an HAI Program AR Prevention Collaborative Tool Kit to help LPHs and healthcare organizations develop and implement regional AR/CDI prevention collaboratives in other at-risk or high AR/CDI prevalence areas in California. The tool kit includes materials developed for each of our collaboratives, which may be adapted to meet local needs. Conclusions: Regionally coordinated AR/CDI prevention initiatives among LPHs and HCFs can contribute to increased AR awareness, improved AR prevention practices, and decreased AR/CDI incidence. The effectiveness of regional AR/CDI prevention collaboratives may be the result of concurrent efforts to improve AR prevention practices both within individual HCFs and across patient sharing networks.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

Risk of Hospital-Onset C. difficile Infection Increases With Prior Inpatient and Outpatient Visits

Background:Clostridioides difficile is a leading cause of healthcare-associated infections, and greater healthcare exposure is a primary risk factor for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). Longer hospital stays and greater CDI pressure, both at the hospital level and the level, have been linked to greater risk. In addition, symptoms associated with healthcare-associated CDI often do not present until a patient has been discharged. Our study objective was to estimate the extent to which exposure to different types of healthcare settings (eg, prior hospitalization, emergency department [ED], outpatient or long-term care) increase risk for hospital-onset CDI. Methods: We conducted a case-control study using the Truven Marketscan Commerical Claims and Medicare Supplemental databases from 2001 to 2017. Case patients were selected as all inpatient visits with a secondary diagnosis of CDI and no previous CDI diagnosis in the prior 90 days. Controls were selected from all inpatient admissions without any CDI diagnosis during the current admission or prior 90 days. A logistic regression model was used to estimate risk associated with prior healthcare exposure. Indicators were created for prior exposure to different healthcare settings: separate indicators were used to indicate transfer, exposure to that setting in the prior 1–30 days, 31–60 days and 61–90 days. Separate indicators were created for prior hospitalization, ED, outpatient clinic, nursing home or long-term care facilities (LTCFs), psychiatric or substance-abuse facility or other outpatient facility. We also included an indicator for prior exposure to a family member with CDI and prior outpatient antibiotics. Results: Estimates for selected variables (odds ratios) are presented in Table 1. Prior hospitalization, ED visits, outpatient clinics, nursing home and LTCFs were all associated with increased risk of secondary diagnosed CDI. Prior hospitalization and nursing home/LTCF conveyed the greatest risk. In addition, a ‘dose-–response’ relationship occurred for each of these exposure settings, with exposure nearest the admission date having the largest risk. Prior exposure to psychiatric , substance abuse, or other outpatient facilities were not risk factors for CDI. Having a family member with prior CDI and both low-risk and high-risk outpatient antibiotics were associated with increased risk. These factors also exhibited a ‘dose–response’ pattern. Conclusions: Exposure to various healthcare settings significantly increased risk for secondary CDI. Prior healthcare exposures occurring nearest to the point of admission conveyed the greatest risk. These results suggest that many hospital-associated CDI cases attributed to a current hospital stay may actually be acquired from prior healthcare settings.Funding: CDC Modeling Infectious Diseases (MInD) in Healthcare NetworkDisclosures: None

A Randomized Assessment of a Laxative-Based Clostridioides difficile Diagnostic Stewardship Intervention

Background:Clostridiodes difficile is the leading healthcare-associated pathogen, with significant morbidity associated with acute C. difficile infection (CDI). However, polymerase chain reaction stool testing is unable to differentiate colonization from infection, leading to frequent overdiagnosis, unnecessary iatrogenesis, and additional costs. As a result, IDSA guidelines do not recommend C. difficile testing in patients with diarrheal symptoms attributed to other causes, including laxatives. Our group has previously investigated the use of a computerized clinical decision support (CCDS) tool to reduce inappropriate C. difficile testing in a single tertiary-care health system, with a subsequent 41% reduction in testing. We investigated the reduction in proportion of inappropriately completed tests with the randomized addition of a laxative alert to our existing CCDS. Methods: An existing electronic medical record-based CCDS tool was augmented by the addition of an automatic alert that notified the user if a patient received any of a set of identified laxative medications within 48 hours. During the 78-day pilot period, users encountered the existing CCDS or the CCDS with laxative alert (CCDS-LA), randomized by patient identification number. A proportional χ2 analysis was used to compare the proportion of aborted to completed tests among patients who met laxative criteria in the CCDS versus CCDS-LA groups. Results: In total, 187 test orders were attempted during the pilot period in 119 patients meeting the laxative alert criteria, with 43.3% order attempts randomized to the existing CCDS and 56.7% to the CCDS-LA. Of order attempts via the CCDS-LA, 50.0% were completed, compared to 64.2% of orders completed via the existing CCDS (22.1% relative reduction in test completion; P = .0525). Conclusions: We demonstrated substantially fewer completed C. difficile tests among patients receiving laxatives who were randomized to modified laxative-alert CCDS. Although our result did not reach statistical significance, the trend toward reduced inappropriate testing prompted the CCDS-LA alert to be adopted hospital-wide following completion of the test period. Further analyses of the pre- and postintervention periods are required to determine whether this intervention significantly impacts testing rates over time, as well as to determine the durability and safety of the CCDS-LA. Additional analyses are also needed to assess the impacts on hospital-onset CDI rate and the associated costs.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

Improving Appropriate Diagnosis of Clostridioides difficile Infection Through an Enteric Pathogen Order Set With Computerized Clinical Decision Support: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis.

BackgroundInappropriate testing for Clostridioides difficile leads to overdiagnosis of C difficile infection (CDI). We determined the effect of a computerized clinical decision support (CCDS) order set on C difficile polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test utilization and clinical outcomes.MethodsThis study is an interrupted time series analysis comparing C difficile PCR test utilization, hospital-onset CDI (HO-CDI) rates, and clinical outcomes before and after implementation of a CCDS order set at 2 academic medical centers: University of Washington Medical Center (UWMC) and Harborview Medical Center (HMC).ResultsCompared with the 20-month preintervention period, during the 12-month postimplementation of the CCDS order set, there was an immediate and sustained reduction in C difficile PCR test utilization rates at both hospitals (HMC, −28.2% [95% confidence interval {CI}, −43.0% to −9.4%], P = .005; UWMC, −27.4%, [95% CI, −37.5% to −15.6%], P < .001). There was a significant reduction in rates of C difficile tests ordered in the setting of laxatives (HMC, −60.8% [95% CI, −74.3% to −40.1%], P < .001; UWMC, −37.3%, [95% CI, −58.2% to −5.9%], P = .02). The intervention was associated with an increase in the C difficile test positivity rate at HMC (P = .01). There were no significant differences in HO-CDI rates or in the proportion of patients with HO-CDI who developed severe CDI or CDI-associated complications including intensive care unit transfer, extended length of stay, 30-day mortality, and toxic megacolon.ConclusionsComputerized clinical decision support tools can improve C difficile diagnostic test stewardship without causing harm. Additional studies are needed to identify key elements of CCDS tools to further optimize C difficile testing and assess their effect on adverse clinical outcomes.

Healthcare-associated Urinary Tract Infection (HA-UTI): A Risk Factor for Clostridioides Difficile Infection (CDI)? Results of a Real-world Data (RWD) Analysis

<h3>Background</h3> It is estimated that 223,900 cases of CDI occur annually in hospitalized patients resulting in 12,800 deaths and $1 billion in attributable costs. Antimicrobial use is a risk factor for CDI. Antimicrobials ordered for UTI have been identified as a factor in both recurrent CDI and community-acquired CDI. This RWD analysis seeks to explore the relationship between HA-UTI and hospital-onset CDI (HO-CDI). <h3>Methods</h3> An electronic infection surveillance system was the source of de-identified RWD from 290 hospitals. Algorithmically-derived measures of healthcare-associated infections (ADM-HAIs), and records of all-cause antimicrobial orders (AOs), for all inpatient admissions for the period 10/1/18–9/30/19 were analyzed. All patients who presented with a urine ADM-HAI suggestive of HA-UTI and no other healthcare-associated infection (Urine+ patients), were observed for subsequent HO-CDI. Urine+ patients were compared to patients with no HAI of any type, other than CDI (HAI-free patients), and relative risk (RR) was estimated. The analysis was repeated for the subgroup of patients who received an AO for any reason during their stay. <h3>Results</h3> 3,050,525 inpatient admissions were analyzed. 26,634 were identified as Urine+ patients. 188 of those patients subsequently presented with HO-CDI. 2,978,507 were identified as HAI-free patients. 6,238 of those patients presented with HO-CDI. The incidence of HO-CDI was significantly higher in Urine+ patients compared to HAI-free patients (RR=3.37, 95% CL[2.92, 3.89], p<0.0001). When the analysis was repeated to examine only patients who received AOs, Urine+ patients continued to be at higher risk of subsequent HO-CDI compared to HAI-free patients (RR=3.28, 95% CL[2.74,3.92], p<0.0001). <h3>Conclusions</h3> The presence of a urine ADM-HAI, suggestive of HA-UTI, was associated with an increased risk of subsequent HO-CDI. This held when only patients with AOs were considered. These observations mirror findings from other published studies, however, other factors may have contributed to increased risk for both HA-UTI and HO-CDI.

Mnemonic Flash Card Education Campaign Decreases Hospital-Onset Clostridioides difficile Infections

<h3>Background</h3> Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) is now the most common healthcare-acquired pathogen. The pathogen causes life-threatening diarrhea and colitis. The hospital-onset C. difficile rate of a southern California hospital was significantly higher than that of local community hospitals in 2018. A review of the hospital-onset cases revealed that the majority were due to missed sample collection through patient day 3. The objective of this study is to create an education campaign that promotes smarter C.difficile testing in order to reduce hospital-onset C.difficile infections. <h3>Methods</h3> The C. difficile education campaign was centered around a mnemonic flash card (5 by 2.5 inches) titled "THE RUNS". The first word (THE) of the acronym had phrases focused on the importance of collecting specimens through patient admission day 3. The first word's phrases also emphasized prompt patient isolation and hand hygiene with soap and water. The second word (RUNS) had phrases that promoted C.difficile testing stewardship after patient day 3. Nursing conversations with unit leadership and physicians regarding the appropriateness of C.difficile testing were encouraged. The flash card was fastened to the majority of nursing unit computer monitors. The card's education was presented at nursing leadership meetings and unit huddles. <h3>Results</h3> The rate of hospital-onset C.difficile decreased from 4.4 cases per 10,000 patient days (January through October 2018) to 2.6 cases per 10,000 patient days (January through October 2019), representing a 41% reduction in rate. <h3>Conclusions</h3> The education campaign centered around the mnemonic flash card "THE RUNS" was successful in reducing the hospital onset C.difficile rate. Frontline healthcare providers became more knowledgeable about the importance of preventing hospital-onset C.difficile infections through smarter C.difficile testing.

Impact of a Diagnosis-Centered Antibiotic Stewardship on Incident Clostridioides difficile Infections in Older Inpatients: An Observational Study.

In 2015, a major increase in incident hospital-onset Clostridioides difficile infections (HO-CDI) in a geriatric university hospital led to the implementation of a diagnosis-centered antibiotic stewardship program (ASP). We aimed to evaluate the impact of the ASP on antibiotic consumption and on HO-CDI incidence. The intervention was the arrival of a full-time infectiologist in the acute geriatric unit in May 2015, followed by the implementation of new diagnostic procedures for infections associated with an antibiotic withdrawal policy. Between 2015 and 2018, the ASP was associated with a major reduction in diagnoses for inpatients (23% to 13% for pneumonia, 24% to 13% for urinary tract infection), while median hospital stays and mortality rates remained stable. The reduction in diagnosed bacterial infections was associated with a 45% decrease in antibiotic consumption in the acute geriatric unit. HO-CDI incidence also decreased dramatically from 1.4‰ bed-days to 0.8‰ bed-days in the geriatric rehabilitation unit. The ASP focused on reducing the overdiagnosis of bacterial infections in the acute geriatric unit was successfully associated with both a reduction in antibiotic use and a clear reduction in the incidence of HO-CDI in the geriatric rehabilitation unit.

Chasing the rate: An interrupted time series analysis of interventions targeting reported hospital onset Clostridioides difficile, 2013-2018.

To assess the impact of major interventions targeting infection control and diagnostic stewardship in efforts to decrease Clostridioides difficile hospital onset rates over a 6-year period. Interrupted time series. The study was conducted in an 865-bed academic medical center. Monthly hospital-onset C. difficile infection (HO-CDI) rates from January 2013 through January 2019 were analyzed around 5 major interventions: (1) a 2-step cleaning process in which an initial quaternary ammonium product was followed with 10% bleach for daily and terminal cleaning of rooms of patients who have tested positive for C. difficile (February 2014), (2) UV-C device for all terminal cleaning of rooms of C. difficile patients (August 2015), (3) "contact plus" isolation precautions (June 2016), (4) sporicidal peroxyacetic acid and hydrogen peroxide cleaning in all patient areas (June 2017), (5) electronic medical record (EMR) decision support tool to facilitate appropriate C. difficile test ordering (March 2018). Environmental cleaning interventions and enhanced "contact plus" isolation did not impact HO-CDI rates. Diagnostic stewardship via EMR decision support decreased the HO-CDI rate by 6.7 per 10,000 patient days (P = .0079). When adjusting rates for test volume, the EMR decision support significance was reduced to a difference of 5.1 case reductions per 10,000 patient days (P = .0470). Multiple aggressively implemented infection control interventions targeting CDI demonstrated a disappointing impact on endemic CDI rates over 6 years. This study adds to existing data that outside of an outbreak situation, traditional infection control guidance for CDI prevention has little impact on endemic rates.

1522-P: High Incidence of Hospital-Onset Clostridium Difficile Infection in Diabetic Foot Syndrome Patients: Data from a Single Tertiary Diabetes Care Clinic in Poland

Diabetic Foot Syndrome (DFS) commonly occurs with infected ulceration and is associated with a high rate of amputation and excessive mortality. Antibiotic therapy increases the risk of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). The mean CDI rate in European hospitals is 7.0 cases (country range 0.7-28.7) per 10 000 patient-bed days (PBD). The risk of hospital-acquired CDI (HA-CDI) among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and DFS may be much higher than in the general hospitalized population. The aim of the study is to define the incidence of HA-CDI in patients with DM and DFS. We performed a retrospective analysis using 2018 data from a tertiary diabetes care hospital which provides medical care mostly to patients with diabetes, including those admitted from the emergency department. We included patients with CDI confirmed by positive test result for toxins A/B. In 2018, CDI occurred in 22 cases, including 9 in patients with DFS. Overall, the CDI incidence rate was 21.6 cases per 10 000 PBD. The rate was much higher among patients with DFS than among patients department-wide (IRR: 3.73, 95% CI: 1.59-8.71). Prior to testing for toxins A/B, antibiotics were used in all DM patients with DFS who developed HA-CDI (9/9) and in 83.8% (109/130) DFS cases not complicated by CDI. Patients with DFS and CDI were characterized by lower mean BMI (28.3±0.4 vs. 30.3±0.6 kg/m2, p=0.01) than patients with DFS and without CDI. Between these two groups, no statistically significant differences were found in sex (male: 96/130 vs. 6/9, p=0.70), median age at hospitalization (65.0 (57.0-70.0) vs. 62.0 (52.0-67.0) yrs., p=0.30), HbA1c (68.3 (42.1-80.3) vs. 60.7 (49.7-78.1) mmol/mol, p=0.93) and eGFR (78.0 (62.0-93.0) vs. 84.5 (54.0-97.0) ml/min/1,73m2, p=0.91). Our results showed that DM patients with DFS had a higher risk of CDI than patients department-wide. Disclosure J. Hohendorff: None. M. Serafin: None. P.W. Witek: None. S. Borys: None. B. Katra: None. M. Malecki: None.

Impact of an automated hand hygiene monitoring system combined with a performance improvement intervention on hospital-acquired infections.

Hand hygiene adherence has been associated with reductions in nosocomial infection. We assessed the effect of improvements in electronically measured hand hygiene adherence on the incidence of hospital-acquired infections. This quasi-experimental study was conducted in a 555-bed urban safety-net level I trauma center. The preintervention period was January 2015 through June 2016. Baseline electronic hand hygiene data collection took place from April through June 2016. The intervention period was July 2016 through December 2017. An electronic hand hygiene system was installed in 4 locations in our hospital. Performance improvement strategies were implemented that included education, troubleshooting, data dissemination, and feedback. Adherence rates were tracked over time. Rates of hospital-acquired infections were evaluated in the intervention units and in control units selected for comparison. The intervention period was subdivided into the initial and subsequent 9-month periods and were compared to the baseline period. Electronically measured hand hygiene rates improved significantly from baseline to intervention, from 47% 77% adherence. Rates >70% continued to be measured 18 months after the intervention. Interrupted time series analysis indicated a significant effect of hand hygiene on healthcare facility-onset Clostridioides difficile infection rates during the first 9 months of the intervention. This trend continued during the final 9 months of the intervention but was nonsignificant. No effects were observed for other hospital-acquired infection rates. Implementation of electronic hand hygiene monitoring and performance improvement interventions resulted in reductions in hospital-onset Clostridioides difficile infection rates.

Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile infection in Japanese hospitals 2008–2017: A real-world nationwide analysis of treatment pattern, incidence and testing density

ObjectiveTo characterize treatment pattern, incidence and diagnosis of hospital-onset Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in Japan, cases were studied over a 9-year period using a large, administrative database. MethodsThis was a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of inpatients at 320 Japanese Diagnosis-Procedure Combination (DPC) hospitals. Hospitalizations between April 2008 and March 2017 were extracted for patients aged ≥18 years. CDI was defined as CDI treatment plus CDI diagnosis or positive enzyme immunoassay (EIA) result. Endpoints included treatment (type, route, daily dose, duration), time to CDI onset from admission, and time to recurrence (rCDI) from the end of treatment. Chronological changes were reported for treatment pattern, CDI incidence and EIA testing. ResultsThe analysis included 11,823 CDI hospitalizations, 1359 with rCDI. Overall, oral metronidazole (MNZ), oral vancomycin (VCM), and intravenous MNZ were used in 50.2%, 42.1% and 1.2% of CDI hospitalizations, respectively. From 2009 to 2017, CDI hospitalizations treated with MNZ more than doubled and VCM more than halved. Median (Q1–Q3) time to CDI and rCDI onset was 25 (11–52) days and 10 (6–17.5) days, respectively. Median treatment duration ranged from 8 to 10 days and median dose was 1 g/day for both MNZ and VCM. CDI incidence remained steady from 2010 until 2017 (0.99/10,000 patient-days) and EIA testing density doubled from 2008 to 2017 (24.46/10,000 patient-days). ConclusionOral MNZ has become the primary CDI treatment in Japanese DPC hospitals. The treatment duration and dose were aligned to the package insert. CDI diagnostic testing density increased over time, CDI incidence did not. Clinical trial registration numberN/A.