The two drugs currently recommended for the treatment of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), namely vancomycin and metronidazole, are both associated with high rates of recurrence of infection. Hence there is a need for new treatment options. The novel oral macrocyclic antibiotic fidaxomicin (previously known as PAR-101, OPT-80 and difimicin) was recently approved in the USA and in Europe fo...

BACKGROUND Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) due to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) ribotype 027 (type 027) has been described worldwide. In some countries, an increase was reported of toxin A-negative PCR ribotype 017 (type 017). We encountered an outbreak due to these 2 types occurring simultaneously in a 980-bed teaching hospital in the Netherlands. METHODS In a case-control study from...

Background/Aims The incidence and severity of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) have increased worldwide, resulting in a need for rapid and accurate diagnostic methods. Methods A retrospective study was conducted to compare CDI diagnosis methods between January 2014 and December 2014. The stool samples, which were obtained in presumptive CDI patients, were compared for their diagnostic ac...

The majority of antibiotic-induced diarrhea is caused by Clostridium difficile (C. difficile). Hospitalizations for C. difficile infection (CDI) have tripled in the last decade, emphasizing the need to better understand how the organism colonizes the intestine and maintain infection. The mucus provides an interface for bacterial-host interactions and changes in intestinal mucus have been linked...

Control of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) outbreaks in health care facilities presents significant challenges to infection control specialists and other health care workers. C. difficile spores survive routine environmental cleaning with detergents and hand hygiene with alcohol-based gels. Enhanced cleaning of all potentially contaminated surfaces with 10% sodium hypochlorite reduces the...

BACKGROUND There are limited data examining healthcare resource utilization in patients with recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). METHODS Patients with CDI at a tertiary-care hospital in Houston, TX, were prospectively enrolled into an observational cohort study. Recurrence was assessed via follow-up phone calls. Patients with one or more recurrence were included in this study. Th...

The incidence and severity of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) have dramatically increased in the Western world in recent years. In contrast, CDI is rarely reported in China, possibly due to under-diagnosis. This article briefly summarizes CDI incidence, management and preventive strategies. The authors intend to raise awareness of this disease among Chinese physicians and health workers, ...

Clostridium difficile is a significant nosocomial and community-acquired pathogen, and is the leading cause of antibiotic-induced diarrhea associated with high morbidity and mortality. Given that the treatment outcome depends on the severity of C. difficile infection (CDI), we aimed to establish an efficient method of assessing severity, and focused on the stool biomarker fecal calprotectin (FC...

In recent years, significant advances in the treatment of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) have risen. We review the most relevant updated recommendations in the current standard of care of CDI and discuss emerging therapies, including antibiotic, alternative therapies (probiotics, toxin-binding resins, immunotherapy) and new data on fecal transplantation. Upcoming surgical options and oth...

BACKGROUND Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) can lead to complications, recurrence, and death. Numerous studies have assessed risk factors for these unfavourable outcomes, but systematic reviews or meta-analyses published so far were limited in scope or in quality. METHODS A systematic review was completed according to PRISMA guidelines. An electronic search in five databases was performe...