Hospitals stressing cleaning protocols for Clostridium difficile infections, according to an article on the MD website. Almost half healthcare facilities surveyed hadn’t adopted strict limits on the use of antibiotics, but protective gear, separate hospital rooms and special cleaning techniques were in place in virtually all hospitals

The study was published online in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.

“C. diff infection over the last decade has emerged as a threat to patients, especially the most vulnerable and the elderly, and has increased in incidence and severity,” said lead author Sanjay Saint, MD, MPH, George Dock Professor of Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan.

“There are many ways to try to limit the spread, and from our data it looks like hospitals are aware of the evidence behind them and acting on many where they believe the evidence is strong. But the one area where there's a major disconnect between evidence and practice is antimicrobial stewardship.”

Read the article.