The effect of pharmacy restriction of clindamycin on Clostridium difficile infection rates in an orthopedics ward

Am J Infect Control. 2014 Jun;42(6):e71-3. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2014.02.018.

Abstract

A high consumption of clindamycin was noted in an orthopedics ward with high rates of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). We restricted clindamycin for the entire ward. A reduction of 88% in CDI (1.07 to 0.12 × 1,000 patients-days, P = .056) and 84% for all-cause diarrhea (2.40 to 0.38 × 1,000 patients-days, P = .021) was achieved. Clindamycin was reduced 92.61% without an increase in other antibiotics. We identified high consumption of clindamycin as a risk factor for CDI.

Keywords: Antibiotic stewardship; Antibiotics; Hospital acquired infection.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Clindamycin / administration & dosage*
  • Clostridioides difficile*
  • Diarrhea / epidemiology
  • Diarrhea / microbiology
  • Diarrhea / prevention & control
  • Drug Utilization / statistics & numerical data*
  • Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / epidemiology*
  • Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / prevention & control
  • Hospitals, Teaching
  • Humans
  • Orthopedics
  • Pharmacy Service, Hospital*
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Clindamycin