Comparison of trends in Clostridioides difficile infections in hospitalised patients during the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic: A retrospective sentinel surveillance study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

During the COVID-19 pandemic, several factors, such as improved hand hygiene, social distancing, and restricted hospital referral, may have had an influence on the epidemiology of Clostridioides difficile infections (CDI).

Methods

The annual CDI incidence rate of nine hospitals participating in the Dutch sentinel CI surveillance with complete data was compared between 2020 and the previous five surveillance years. Trends in characteristics of hospitalised CDI patients in 21-24 participating hospitals were compared between the first (March 13-May 12, 2020) or second Dutch COVID-19 wave (September 17, 2020-January 1, 2021) and the same calendar periods in 2015 through 2019. All analyses were adjusted for trend changes over time.

Findings

The annual CDI

SUBMITTER: Vendrik KEW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9236856 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature