Risk for Clostridium difficile Infection in Subsequent Patients Who Occupy the Same Bed

Question  Is the receipt of antibiotics by prior hospital bed occupants associated with risk for Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in subsequent patients who occupy the same bed?

Findings  In this cohort study, receipt of antibiotics by prior patients was associated with a 22% relative increase in risk for CDI in subsequent patients who occupied the same bed. Aside from antibiotics, no other factors related to the prior bed occupants were associated with increased risk for CDI in subsequent patients.

Meaning  Antibiotics given to one patient may alter the local microenvironment to influence a different patient’s risk for CDI.

Importance  Antibiotics are the crucial risk factor for CDI, but it is unknown how one hospitalized patient’s receipt of antibiotics may affect risk for CDI for a different patient within the same environment.

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