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Table 1 Clostridium difficile knowledge assessment

From: Clostridium difficile infection perceptions and practices: a multicenter qualitative study in South Africa

Criteria for Clostridium difficile knowledge

Points

Signs and symptoms (diarrhoea)

1

States characteristics of bacteria (any mention of: microbiology, virulence mechanism, disruption of normal flora, opportunistic)

1

Soap and water needed to clean hands, not just alcohol

1

Treatment options (any mention of: metronidazole, oral vancomycin, fecal transplant, contraindication with loperamide)

1

Contact isolation needed (or contagious)

1

Risk factors (immunocompromised, antibiotic use, proton pump inhibitors)

1

Diagnosis (stool sample, testing methods [PCR/toxins])

1

Total points

=

No knowledge = 0–1a

Limited knowledge = 2–3

Moderate knowledge = 4–5

Advanced knowledge = 6–7

  1. aPoint allocation of 1 is considered no knowledge because there are multiple diseases associated with any one of the criteria, unless person states characteristics of bacteria