Collateral impact of a hospital outbreak of Clostridium difficile: an unrecognized surge event requiring a system-level response

Healthc Q. 2012;15(3):66-72. doi: 10.12927/hcq.2013.23037.

Abstract

This paper discusses a unique surge event caused by an outbreak of Clostridium difficile, resulting not from an increase in the demands on the healthcare system but, rather, from a substantial decrease in the capacity to provide care when the medical capacity in the facility was decreased by 50% due to bed closures. Approaches to managing the situation using the staff, stuff and space paradigm are presented as strategies to prevent future adverse medical events.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Canada / epidemiology
  • Clostridioides difficile*
  • Clostridium Infections / epidemiology*
  • Clostridium Infections / prevention & control
  • Cross Infection / epidemiology*
  • Cross Infection / prevention & control
  • Disaster Planning*
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Efficiency, Organizational
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Information Dissemination
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / organization & administration
  • Quality of Health Care*
  • Surge Capacity / organization & administration*