Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted the information collection request titled Natural History of Clostridium difficile Colonization and Infection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. CDC previously published a “Proposed Data Collection Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations” notice on May 29, 2018 to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. CDC received one comment related to the previous notice. This notice serves to allow an additional 30 days for public and affected agency comments.

CDC will accept all comments for this proposed information collection project. The Office of Management and Budget is particularly interested in comments that:

(a) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;

(b) Evaluate the accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

(c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;

(d) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including, through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses; and

(e) Assess information collection costs.

To request additional information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the information collection plan and instruments, call (404) 639-7570 or send an email to omb@cdc.gov. Direct written comments and/or suggestions regarding the items contained in this notice to the Attention: CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to (202) 395-5806. Provide written comments within 30 days of notice publication.

Proposed Project

Natural History of Clostridium difficile Colonization and Infection—New—National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

A broad 60-day notice was published in the Federal Register on May 29, 2018, Vol. 83, No. 103, pp. 24475-24476. This 60-day notice notified the public of the broad agency announcement—Applied Research to Address Emerging Public Health Priorities—being made by CDC. Though not specific to this project, it informed the public of CDC's intent to contract with researchers to carry out a variety of different research projects.

Current estimates from the CDC suggest that Clostridium difficile now causes more healthcare-associated infections than any other pathogen. However, only 10% to 60% of those acquiring colonization with toxigenic strains develop C. difficile infection (CDI), with the remainder becoming asymptomatic carriers. Current infection control measures focus almost entirely on patients with CDI, but several recent studies suggest that asymptomatic carriers of toxigenic C. difficile may be an under-appreciated source of transmission. Unfortunately, the natural history of C. difficile colonization is not well described because previous studies have not included long-term follow-up of colonized patients and have not included strain-specific information. Previous studies of C. difficile carriage have also rarely included assessments of the burden of carriage, the frequency of skin and environmental shedding, and the impact of antibiotics and other healthcare exposures on colonization.

The primary goal of this project is to develop a better understanding of the natural history of C. difficile colonization and infection to develop more effective control measures. The study will answer several questions. How often do patients acquire C. difficile colonization and shed the organism in their stool? Once colonization is acquired, how long do patients continue to shed C. difficile in their stool? How often do patients who acquire C. difficile colonization develop diarrhea? Are some types of C. difficile strains more likely to cause diarrhea or more likely to be shed in stool for a long time? Finally, do factors like antibiotic treatment, other medications, and diet affect the duration and amount of C. difficile shed in stool?

The results of the study will be used in the design of interventions to prevent transmission by asymptomatic carriers. The findings will be valuable for development of accurate transmission models including estimation of the effects of prevention interventions and the data will be made available for development of mathematical models of C. difficile transmission. Finally, the study will provide current information on the incubation period for CDI and the fraction of carriers that progress to CDI.

The study hospitals will include the Cleveland VA Medical Center, MetroHealth Medical Center, and the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). We will conduct a one-year cohort study of 1200 total patients, including 800 admitted to the hospital, 300 admitted to a long-term care facility (LTCF), and 100 outpatients with no healthcare admissions within 3 months. Peri-rectal, groin, chest/abdomen/hand, and environmental swabs will be collected weekly while in the hospital or LTCF for up to 4 weeks; for outpatients, swabs will be collected weekly for up to 4 weeks. Our goal will be to identify patients with new acquisition of toxigenic C. difficile carriage to study the natural history of carriage. Based on previous studies, we anticipate that ~12% of patients will acquire colonization (145 total). For patients with new acquisition of carriage, additional swabs will be collected up to once each month for six months to determine the natural history of colonization and if CDI is diagnosed, stool specimens will be cultured.

One of our goals is to determine the impact of a variety of factors including antibiotic therapy, medications (e.g., laxatives), diet, and strain type on duration and burden of C. difficile colonization. In addition, we will obtain information regarding symptoms of diarrhea. To obtain this information, we will perform chart review and interviews. For all subjects, chart review will be conducted during and after admission to obtain information on demographics, co-morbidities, prior CDI, ward location, devices, incontinence, bathing practices, proton pump inhibitor use, mobility, diarrhea, laxatives, and antibiotics (categorized based upon anti-anaerobic and anti-C. difficile activity). To supplement information from chart review, subjects will be interviewed by study personnel at the time of each culture collection to obtain information on diarrhea, medications including antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors, and laxatives, diet, bathing practices, and fecal incontinence.

The information being collected through chart review and interviews will be valuable to identify factors associated with C. difficile colonization and infection. If this information were not collected, we would not be able to adequately assess factors that could affect C. difficile colonization or infection and/or that could lead to gastrointestinal symptoms.

To supplement information from chart review, subjects will be interviewed by study personnel (contractors) at the time of each culture collection to obtain information on diarrhea, medications including antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors, and laxatives, diet, bathing practices, and fecal incontinence. The questions will be administered by study personnel who will be trained by the principal investigator or co-investigators. All subjects will be interviewed. The respondents will have advance notice or appointments.

Total annualized Burden Hours for this study are 577. There is no burden on respondents other than the time to participate. Authorizing legislation comes from Section 301 of the Public Health Service Act. CDC is seeking one year of clearance to complete this study.