Ohio hospitals collaborate to battle C. diff infections

More than 50 Ohio hospitals have announced plans to track Clostridium difficile, of C. diff, infections for 18 months while working to find ways to reduce incidences of the potentially lethal bacteria (Source: “Ohio hospitals unite in infection fight,” Columbus Dispatch, Feb. 16, 2009).

The Ohio Hospital Association announced the collaboration, which will work with epidemiologists at the Ohio State University Medical Center. The project’s first goal is to standardize reporting of C. diff infections. The next step will be developing best practices for preventing them. Dr. Kurt B. Stevenson, an epidemiologist at OSU is the project’s principal investigator.

The list of hospitals participating in the project will not be made public until it has been finalized, according to OHA officials.