Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41201562›Full record

ArticleInfectious diseases and therapy2026

Clinical Impact of Implementing a Specific Clinical Pathway for the Management of Clostridioides difficile Infection.

Miguel Rodríguez-Fernández, Rocio Herrero, Pilar González-De-La-Aleja, María Dolores Valverde-Fredet, María-Paz Ventero, Marta Trigo-Rodríguez, Livia Giner, Ana Isabel Aller-García, Héctor Pinargote-Celorio, Reinaldo Espíndola-Gómez and 11 more

Registry-linked trialAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Infectious diseases and therapy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04801862 (Clinical, Microbiological and Genetic Factors Associated With Recurrence of Clostridioides Difficile Infection and Development of a Predictive Tool for Recurrence), which is not on this map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT04801862 unknown statusnot on this map

Clinical, Microbiological and Genetic Factors Associated With Recurrence of Clostridioides Difficile Infection and Development of a Predictive Tool for Recurrence

Typeobservational_patient_registrySponsorHospital Universitario de ValmeRan2021 to 2024Enrolled750ConditionsClostridium Difficile Infection, Health Care Associated Infection, Nosocomial Infection
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

21 authors.

Miguel Rodríguez-FernándezUnidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Hospital Universitario de Valme. Universidad de Sevilla. Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, IBiS (Universidad de Sevilla, Junta de Andalucía, CSIC), Seville, Spain.
Rocio HerreroUnidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Hospital Universitario de Valme. Universidad de Sevilla. Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, IBiS (Universidad de Sevilla, Junta de Andalucía, CSIC), Seville, Spain.
Pilar González-De-La-AlejaUnidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Hospital General Universitario Dr. Balmis. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL). Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain.
María Dolores Valverde-FredetUnidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Hospital Universitario de Valme. Universidad de Sevilla. Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, IBiS (Universidad de Sevilla, Junta de Andalucía, CSIC), Seville, Spain.
María-Paz VenteroUnidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Hospital General Universitario Dr. Balmis. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL). Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain.
Marta Trigo-RodríguezUnidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Hospital Universitario de Valme. Universidad de Sevilla. Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, IBiS (Universidad de Sevilla, Junta de Andalucía, CSIC), Seville, Spain.
Livia GinerUnidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Hospital General Universitario Dr. Balmis. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL). Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain.
Ana Isabel Aller-GarcíaUnidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Hospital Universitario de Valme. Universidad de Sevilla. Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, IBiS (Universidad de Sevilla, Junta de Andalucía, CSIC), Seville, Spain.
Héctor Pinargote-CelorioUnidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Hospital General Universitario Dr. Balmis. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL). Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain.
Reinaldo Espíndola-GómezUnidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Hospital Universitario de Valme. Universidad de Sevilla. Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, IBiS (Universidad de Sevilla, Junta de Andalucía, CSIC), Seville, Spain.
Mónica ParraUnidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Hospital General Universitario Dr. Balmis. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL). Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain.
Pedro Martínez Pérez-CrespoUnidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Hospital Universitario de Valme. Universidad de Sevilla. Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, IBiS (Universidad de Sevilla, Junta de Andalucía, CSIC), Seville, Spain.
José-Manuel Ramos-RincónUnidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Hospital General Universitario Dr. Balmis. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL). Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain.
Antonio Fernández-PevidaUnidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Hospital Universitario de Valme. Universidad de Sevilla. Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, IBiS (Universidad de Sevilla, Junta de Andalucía, CSIC), Seville, Spain.
Joaquín Lanz-GarcíaUnidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Hospital Universitario de Valme. Universidad de Sevilla. Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, IBiS (Universidad de Sevilla, Junta de Andalucía, CSIC), Seville, Spain.
Eva LeónUnidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Hospital Universitario de Valme. Universidad de Sevilla. Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, IBiS (Universidad de Sevilla, Junta de Andalucía, CSIC), Seville, Spain.
Lucía Valiente-De-SantisUnidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Hospital Universitario de Valme. Universidad de Sevilla. Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, IBiS (Universidad de Sevilla, Junta de Andalucía, CSIC), Seville, Spain.
Juan E CorzoUnidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Hospital Universitario de Valme. Universidad de Sevilla. Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, IBiS (Universidad de Sevilla, Junta de Andalucía, CSIC), Seville, Spain.
Juan-Carlos RodríguezUnidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Hospital General Universitario Dr. Balmis. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL). Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain.
Esperanza Merino *Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Hospital General Universitario Dr. Balmis. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL). Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain.
Nicolás Merchante *Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología, Hospital Universitario de Valme. Universidad de Sevilla. Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, IBiS (Universidad de Sevilla, Junta de Andalucía, CSIC), Seville, Spain. nicolasmerchante@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1120-8942

Funding

Instituto de Salud Carlos III PI20/P1450
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionDespite Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) being a leading healthcare-associated infection with high morbimortality, there is little evidence on specific antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) interventions for CDI. The objective of this study was to assess the clinical impact of implementing a specific clinical pathway for CDI management at two Spanish hospitals.

methodsThis was a quasi-experimental pre-post intervention study, and three periods were evaluated: historical (2014-2017), educational-ASP (2018-2020), and intervention (2021-2023), after implementation of a CDI-specific measures bundle. Key measures included: (1) updated local CDI guidelines; (2) 24/7 diagnostic testing and real-time positive results notification to ASP-CDI team; (3) systematic evaluation of new cases; (4) optimizing CDI antibiotic treatment and overall management; and (5) structured follow-up until 8 weeks post-treatment. Primary outcome was first CDI recurrence, and secondary outcomes were readmissions during recurrent CDI episodes and 30-day all-cause mortality.

resultsIn total, there were 1435 patients with CDI included: 370 in the historical period (2014-2017), 537 in the educational-ASP period (2018-2020), and 528 in the CDI-specific clinical pathway period (2021-2023). First CDI recurrence rates significantly declined across periods in high-risk groups: immunocompromised patients, 29% in 2014-2017, 22% in 2018-2020, and 15% in 2021-2023 (p = 0.038); those with severe/fulminant initial CDI, from 38% to 34% to 24% (p = 0.027); and patients aged 65-79 years, from 29% to 31% to 13% (p = 0.003). Hospitalization during recurrent CDI episodes and mortality were significantly reduced in the CDI-specific clinical pathway period: readmissions, 11% (2014-2017), 13% (2018-2020), and 6% (2021-2023) (p = 0.017); mortality, 7%, 6%, and 4% (p = 0.023).

conclusionsThe implementation of a structured, multifaceted clinical pathway specifically designed for CDI management had significant clinical benefits, including a reduction of recurrences in high-risk groups, readmissions, and mortality.

trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT04801862.

Indexed as

Clinical pathwayClostridioides difficileHealth plan implementationHospital admissionMortalityRecurrence

Identifiers

PMID41201562
PMCPMC12783481

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.