Graduation Year
2008
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree
Ph.D.
Degree Granting Department
Nursing
Major Professor
Susan C. McMillan, Ph.D., ARNP
Committee Member
Philip R. Foulis, MD, M.P.H.
Committee Member
Lois O. Gonzalez, Ph.D., ARNP
Committee Member
Brent Small, Ph.D.
Keywords
Nosocomial, Infection, Epidemiology, Intestinal, Pseudomembranous colitis
Abstract
Background: The traditional model of infection control has failed to stop the spread of emerging infectious diseases such as Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) in the acute care environment. Ecological models, which rely upon identification of susceptible hosts, offer an alternative to the prevention of deadly outbreaks. Previous epidemiological research has identified a number of risk factors associated with CDAD. Utilization of this body of research by nurses is limited due to methodological issues that introduce bias and confounding, and use of variables that have limited meaning to the practicing clinical nurse.
Aim: The aim of this study was to develop an ecological model useful for nurses in predicting the susceptibility of individuals to CDAD during an acute care hospital stay. Method: A case-control study compared 66 cases with CDAD to 66 controls matched for the temporal and spatial risk factors of hospital admission date and geographic nursing care unit within the institution. The two subject groups were compared on variables of age, antibiotic burden, laxative or bowel preparation exposure, nutritional status, gastric acid suppression therapy, enteral feeding exposure, and severity of illness as measured on the Horn Severity of Illness index. All subjects were hospitalized between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2006.
Results: On univariate analysis, age, severity of illness, serum albumin levels, length of exposure, and proton pump inhibitor drug burden were significantly associated with CDAD status. Following multivariate analysis, only severity of illness, length of exposure, and decreased antibiotic drug burden were significantly associated with the development of hospital-acquired CDAD.
Conclusions: This study supports the use of an ecological perspective in identifying risk factors and interventions to prevent the future spread of this infectious disease.
Scholar Commons Citation
Steele, Susan Elaine, "Development of an Ecological Model to Predict Risk for Acquisition of Clostridium difficile-Associated Diarrhea During Acute Care Hospitalization" (2008). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/513
