Investigation of a Clostridium difficile associated disease outbreak at Nanaimo General Regional Hospital, August 2008 : Investigation of a C. difficile associated disease outbreak at Nanaimo General Regional Hospital August 2008

On August 2008, the Vancouver Island Health Authority Infection Prevention and Control Program requested the assistance of the BC Centre for Disease Control in conducting an in-depth epidemiologic investigation of the outbreak in order to identify any modifiable factors to help prevent recurrence of CDI outbreaks in the future. [...] The BC Centre for Disease Control was asked to conduct an infection control and epidemiologic review of this outbreak to assist NGRH in understanding the precipitating factors and the course of the outbreak in order to more fully appreciate the measures they needed to take to prevent further outbreaks. [...] A concerted effort was made as the CDI outbreak progressed to reduce the clutter on the floors and to specifically delineate clean and dirty areas of the floor. [...] Some of these issues such as the lack of single patient rooms cannot be addressed rapidly and therefore additional attention needs to be placed on modifiable factors to ensure that the safety of the patients, staff and visitors to the facility is protected. [...] The involvement and support of the senior administrator of the facility was unclear and she was not available to meet with the investigators.