Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs Decrease C. difficile Rates
Clostridium difficile colitis, also known as C. difficile infection, is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that is can be caused by most antibiotics. There are, however, frequent offenders:
1. Clindamycin: Clindamycin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is commonly associated with the development of C. difficile colitis. This antibiotic can disrupt the balance of bacteria in the gut, allowing C. difficile to multiply and cause infection.
2. Fluoroquinolones: Fluoroquinolone antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin, have also been linked to an increased risk of C. difficile colitis.
3. Third-generation cephalosporins: Third-generation cephalosporin antibiotics, such as parenteral ceftriaxone and cefotaxime and oral cefdinir and cefpodoxime, have been associated with an increased risk of C. difficile colitis.
4. Carbapenems: Carbapenem antibiotics, such as meropenem and ertapenem, have also been linked to an increased risk of C. difficile colitis.
“Widespread use of antibiotics promotes the spread of antibiotic resistance. Smart use of antibiotics is the key to controlling its spread” – A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (Scientist and former President of India)
While C. difficile can have a major negative impact affecting adverse outcomes, multiple studies have demonstrated the importance of antimicrobial stewardship in reducing the rates of C. difficile infections in healthcare settings. One of the largest studies showing the impact of antimicrobial stewardship on decreasing Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) rates is a systematic review and meta-analysis published in Clinical Infectious Diseases in 2017.
This study included data from 32 observational studies and 13 intervention studies, comprising over 1.7 million patients. The researchers found that antimicrobial stewardship interventions were associated with a significant reduction in CDI rates, with a pooled relative risk of 0.79 (95% confidence interval 0.69-0.90).
The findings of this study provide strong evidence that antimicrobial stewardship programs can effectively reduce the incidence of CDI in various healthcare settings. This highlights the importance of implementing antimicrobial stewardship strategies to improve patient outcomes and reduce the burden of healthcare-associated infections such as CDI.