It causes diarrhea.
A recent study has revealed that the spread of the hospital-acquired bacterium Clostridium difficile (C. diff) in intensive care units (ICUs) is far more extensive than previously believed. Researchers discovered that this pathogen, known for causing serious gastrointestinal issues, circulates throughout ICUs more than three times as often as earlier estimates suggested. The findings were published in JAMA Network Open and challenge long-held assumptions about how the bacteria move within healthcare settings.
C. diff is particularly dangerous for patients whose natural gut bacteria have been disrupted by antibiotics. The bacterium can trigger symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain, and has a mortality rate of about 6% in the U.S. Its durability is part of what makes it so concerning—it can survive for long periods in hospital environments in the form of resilient spores that resist standard cleaning methods, including alcohol-based disinfectants.
To better understand how C. diff spreads, researchers collected bacterial samples from nearly 200 ICU patients, along with thousands of swabs from hospital surfaces and healthcare workers’ hands. Genetic analysis allowed them to track specific bacterial strains, revealing that many infections were linked to environmental contamination rather than direct patient-to-patient contact. In fact, more than 10% of ICU patients had exposure to the bacterium either directly or through contaminated surfaces in their rooms.
A surprising finding was that in over half of the suspected transmission cases, the patients weren’t even hospitalized at the same time. This suggests the bacteria can remain on surfaces for extended periods and infect future occupants of the room. The study emphasized that surface-to-patient and patient-to-surface interactions play a much bigger role in transmission than previously recognized.
Researchers stressed the need for more rigorous infection control practices in hospitals. Senior author Dr. Michael Rubin underscored the importance of consistent use of protective gear like gloves and gowns, as well as thorough hand hygiene. These preventive measures are essential to reducing the “invisible” spread of C. diff and protecting vulnerable patients from unnecessary harm.
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