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Clostridioides difficile General Information Clostridioides difficile [klos–TRID–e–OY-dees dif–uh–SEEL] is formerly known as Clostridium difficile and often called C. difficile or C. diff. C. diff  is a germ (bacterium) that causes diarrhea and colitis (an inflammation of the colon). People who have other illnesses or conditions requiring prolonged use of antibiotics and the elderly, are at greater risk of acquiring this disease. The bacteria are shed in the feces. People can become infected if they touch items or surfaces that are contaminated with feces and then touch their mouth or mucous membranes. C. difficile infections (CDI) can cause: pseudomembranous colitis

General Description Chikungunya (chik-en-gun-ye) virus is a small (about 60-70 nm diameter), spherical, enveloped virus. Chikungunya disease is caused by the chikungunya virus (CHIKV), an arthropod-borne virus, which means it is transmitted by arthropods, such as mosquitoes and ticks that are also known to cause other illnesses such as encephalitis, yellow fever, and dengue. It is a member of the Alphavirus genus in the Togaviridae family. The CHIKV is mainly spread from person to person through mosquitoes. The name comes from an African word, and it translates to 'that which bends up,' because people bend up with joint pain, one of the most

General Information CRE, which stands for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, are a family of Gram-negative bacteria that are difficult to treat because they have high levels of resistance to antibiotics. Klebsiella species and Escherichia coli (E. coli) are examples of Enterobacteriaceae, a normal part of the human gut bacteria that can become carbapenem-resistant.  Healthy people usually do not get CRE infections. In healthcare settings, CRE infections most commonly occur in patients who are receiving treatment for other conditions.  Patients whose care requires devices like ventilators (breathing machines), urinary (bladder) catheters, or intravenous (vein) catheters, and patients who are taking long courses of certain antibiotics are most at

Candida auris General Information: Candida auris (CAUR) is a multi-drug-resistant fungal pathogen that can cause healthcare-associated infections and outbreaks and, therefore, poses a serious threat to global human health. CAUR can also colonize patients without causing infection. Invasive CAUR infections can lead to severe morbidity and mortality, especially among hospitalized patients who are immunocompromised and or receiving intensive care. Mortality rates of invasive CAUR infections are estimated to be greater than 40%. CAUR has spread in hospitals and long-term care (LTC) settings across the globe. Multiple healthcare-associated CAUR outbreaks and the identification of pan-resistant CAUR isolates internationally have increased

General Information Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungus (or form of yeast) that causes various types of infections in humans. This microorganism belongs to the genus Candida. The Candida albicans yeast is a part of the normal gut flora, a group of microorganisms that live in your mouth and gastrointestinal tract and is present in up to 80% of the human population.  It normally does not cause harmful effects; however overgrowth of the fungus can result in candidiasis (candidosis).  Candidiasis is often observed in immunocompromised individuals, such as patients infected with HIV. Diseases caused by fungi are called mycotic diseases (mycosis). These diseases

General Information Bloodborne pathogens are infectious microorganisms present in blood that can cause disease in humans. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS. Workers exposed to bloodborne pathogens are at risk for serious or life-threatening illnesses. Hepatitis: simply means ‘inflammation of the liver’. This inflammation can be caused by a group of viruses that specifically affect the liver. The most common types of hepatitis are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. The delivery of healthcare has the potential to

Background These are molecules used to treat or prevent infectious diseases in humans and animals. Their mechanism of action is to kill microbes or at least stop them from growing. The term antibiotics are referring to naturally occurring molecules and the term antimicrobials encompass both naturally occurring and synthetically derived molecules. The term bacteriostatic is used to describe antibiotics that stop bacteria from growing. The term bactericidal refers to the kind that kill bacteria. The human immune system is also important in curing infections, and stopping organisms from growing may be sufficient to allow the immune system time to cure the infection. They can help patients live

General Information Acinetobacter [asz−in−ée−toe–back−ter] is a group of Gram-negative bacteria commonly found in soil and water. While there are many types or “species” of Acinetobacter, and all can cause human disease, Acinetobacter baumannii [boe-maa-nee-ie] accounts for about 80% of reported infections. Outbreaks of Acinetobacter infections typically occur in intensive care units and healthcare settings housing very ill patients. Acinetobacter infections rarely occur outside of healthcare settings. Significant outbreaks with this pathogen were tied to soldiers injured during the Iraq war. Symptoms Acinetobacter causes a variety of diseases, ranging from pneumonia to serious blood or wound infections, and the symptoms vary depending on the disease. Acinetobacter may also “colonize” or live

There are several types of “no touch” disinfection (NTD) systems that are commercially available for use in healthcare today. These systems can be divided into two major categories, aerosolized-vapor systems, and ultraviolet C radiation systems. Aerosolized-Vapor Generating Systems These systems are based on generating and spreading small disinfectant-containing particles throughout patient care environments (patient rooms, operating rooms, etc.).  These particles then land on environmental surfaces, establish contact with microorganisms on these surfaces and ultimately deactivate them. The two most common systems in this category are aerosolized hydrogen peroxide systems and vaporized hydrogen peroxide systems. 1. Aerosolized hydrogen peroxide systems

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