Annual Surveillance Summary: Clostridium difficile Infections in the Military Health System (MHS), 2017
Abstract
The EpiData Center (EDC) conducts routine surveillance of Clostridium difficile (CD) incidence among all beneficiaries seeking care within the Military Health System (MHS). This report is a calendar year (CY) 2017 update to the CY 2016 annual report on C. difficile infection (CDI) among MHS beneficiaries. Multiple data sources were linked to assess descriptive and clinical factors related to CD. Health Level 7 (HL7)-formatted microbiology and chemistry data identified CDI. These infections were matched to HL7-formatted pharmacy data to assess prescription practices and the Standard Inpatient Data Record (SIDR) to determine healthcare-associated exposures. CDI incidence in the MHS population in both CY 2017 and CY 2016 showed normal variation when compared to the average annual incidence for CYs 2014-2016 and 2013-2015, respectively. Demographic and clinical characteristics in CY 2017 were similar to trends reported in CY 2016. The burden of CDI continues to largely manifest in the community setting, among beneficiaries aged 45 years and older, and in patients with previous antibiotic and gastric-acid suppressant use. Patients with CDI and specific comorbidities, such as diabetes, renal failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cancer, represent a patient group within the MHS population that is especially vulnerable to worse health outcomes, such as recurrent CDI and increased risk of mortality, when compared to patients without those comorbidities. This group may especially benefit from prompt CDI identification and treatment. Interventions that reduce antibiotic exposure are the primary measures recommended to reduce CDI incidence and recurrence. These measures include limiting the use of unnecessary antibiotics, prescribing antibiotics that are lower risk for contributing to CDI, and using antibiotics for the shortest reasonable duration.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1060094
Entities
People
- Charlotte Neumann
- Uzo Chukwuma
Organizations
- Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center