TY - JOUR
T1 - The Impact of Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection on Patients' Prevention Behaviors
AU - Weaver, Frances M.
AU - Trick, William E.
AU - Evans, Charlesnika T.
AU - Lin, Michael Y.
AU - Adams, William
AU - Pho, Mai T.
AU - Bleasdale, Susan C.
AU - Mullane, Kathleen M.
AU - Johnson, Stuart
AU - Sikka, Monica K.
AU - Peterson, Lance R.
AU - Solomonides, Anthony E.
AU - Gerding, Dale N.
N1 - Funding Information:
Financial support: The work was supported by funding from Chicago Area Patient Centered Outcomes Research Network (CAPriCORN; grant no. 1306-04737). The sponsor was not involved in the preparation, submission, or review of the manuscript. Potential conflicts of interest: Dr Evans serves as a consultant for BioK + . Dr Mullane has grants from Merck, Astellas, and Actelion, and she serves as a consultant for Merck, Astellas, and Chimetrix. Dr Johnson is on the advisory boards of Synthetic Biologics and BioK + . Dr Gerding is a board member of Merck, Acetelion, and Bobiotix Summit, and he serves as a consultant for Minor, Groove, Binder (MGB); Sanofi Pasteur; DaVolterra; and Pfizer.
Funding Information:
Financial support: The work was supported by funding from Chicago Area Patient Centered Outcomes Research Network (CAPriCORN; grant no. 1306-04737). The sponsor was not involved in the preparation, submission, or review of the manuscript.
Funding Information:
Potential conflicts of interest: Dr Evans serves as a consultant for BioK + . Dr Mullane has grants from Merck, Astellas, and Actelion, and she serves as a consultant for Merck, Astellas, and Chimetrix. Dr Johnson is on the advisory boards of Synthetic Biologics and BioK + . Dr Gerding is a board member of Merck, Acetelion, and Bobiotix Summit, and he serves as a consultant for Minor, Groove, Binder (MGB); Sanofi Pasteur; DaVolterra; and Pfizer.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 by The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. All rights reserved.
PY - 2017/11/1
Y1 - 2017/11/1
N2 - OBJECTIVE To determine the impact of recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (RCDI) on patient behaviors following illness. METHODS Using a computer algorithm, we searched the electronic medical records of 7 Chicago-area hospitals to identify patients with RCDI (2 episodes of CDI within 15 to 56 days of each other). RCDI was validated by medical record review. Patients were asked to complete a telephone survey. The survey included questions regarding general health, social isolation, symptom severity, emotional distress, and prevention behaviors. RESULTS In total, 119 patients completed the survey (32%). On average, respondents were 57.4 years old (standard deviation, 16.8); 57% were white, and ~50% reported hospitalization for CDI. At the time of their most recent illness, patients rated their diarrhea as high severity (58.5%) and their exhaustion as extreme (30.7%). Respondents indicated that they were very worried about getting sick again (41.5%) and about infecting others (31%). Almost 50% said that they have washed their hands more frequently (47%) and have increased their use of soap and water (45%) since their illness. Some of these patients (22%-32%) reported eating out less, avoiding certain medications and public areas, and increasing probiotic use. Most behavioral changes were unrelated to disease severity. CONCLUSION Having had RCDI appears to increase prevention-related behaviors in some patients. While some behaviors are appropriate (eg, handwashing), others are not supported by evidence of decreased risk and may negatively impact patient quality of life. Providers should discuss appropriate prevention behaviors with their patients and should clarify that other behaviors (eg, eating out less) will not affect their risk of future illness.
AB - OBJECTIVE To determine the impact of recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (RCDI) on patient behaviors following illness. METHODS Using a computer algorithm, we searched the electronic medical records of 7 Chicago-area hospitals to identify patients with RCDI (2 episodes of CDI within 15 to 56 days of each other). RCDI was validated by medical record review. Patients were asked to complete a telephone survey. The survey included questions regarding general health, social isolation, symptom severity, emotional distress, and prevention behaviors. RESULTS In total, 119 patients completed the survey (32%). On average, respondents were 57.4 years old (standard deviation, 16.8); 57% were white, and ~50% reported hospitalization for CDI. At the time of their most recent illness, patients rated their diarrhea as high severity (58.5%) and their exhaustion as extreme (30.7%). Respondents indicated that they were very worried about getting sick again (41.5%) and about infecting others (31%). Almost 50% said that they have washed their hands more frequently (47%) and have increased their use of soap and water (45%) since their illness. Some of these patients (22%-32%) reported eating out less, avoiding certain medications and public areas, and increasing probiotic use. Most behavioral changes were unrelated to disease severity. CONCLUSION Having had RCDI appears to increase prevention-related behaviors in some patients. While some behaviors are appropriate (eg, handwashing), others are not supported by evidence of decreased risk and may negatively impact patient quality of life. Providers should discuss appropriate prevention behaviors with their patients and should clarify that other behaviors (eg, eating out less) will not affect their risk of future illness.
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U2 - 10.1017/ice.2017.208
DO - 10.1017/ice.2017.208
M3 - Article
C2 - 28946934
AN - SCOPUS:85030853245
SN - 0899-823X
VL - 38
SP - 1351
EP - 1357
JO - Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
JF - Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
IS - 11
ER -