Staff cleaning initiative reduces CDI infection rates

An interprofessional team on an oncology unit implemented additional cleaning practices, including a program conducted by clinical staff, to reduce Clostridioides difficile rates. Published this week in the American Journal of Infection Control, the researchers conducted the study in an oncology unit in a 336-bed community teaching facility after an increase in hospital-onset C. diff infections. In addition to cleaning staff efforts including ultraviolet light treatment in common areas, clinical staff adapted a daily cleaning of five high-touch areas in all patient rooms using a sporicidal disinfectant wipe. Infection rates subsequently fell from 7.27 cases for 10,000 patient days to 1.54 cases per 10,000 patient days. (American Journal of Infection Control article, 2/7/24)