In the United States, healthcare-associated infections increase the cost of care by US$1.5 billion each year. The bacterium was discovered in 1935 and found to be disease-causing in 1978. difficile infections occur more often in women than men. Global rates of disease increased between 20. About 453,000 cases occurred in the United States in 2011, resulting in 29,000 deaths. difficile infections occur in all areas of the world. Some tentative evidence indicates fecal microbiota transplantation and probiotics may decrease the risk of recurrence. Recurrences have been reported in up to 25% of people. Retesting after treatment, as long as the symptoms have resolved, is not recommended, as a person may often remain colonized. The antibiotics metronidazole, vancomycin or fidaxomicin, will cure the infection. Discontinuation of antibiotics may result in resolution of symptoms within three days in about 20% of those infected. Alcohol based hand sanitizer does not appear effective. Prevention efforts include terminal room cleaning in hospitals, limiting antibiotic use, and handwashing campaigns in hospitals. difficile colonization rather than an infection. If a person tests positive but has no symptoms, the condition is known as C. Diagnosis is by stool culture or testing for the bacteria's DNA or toxins. Risk factors for infection include antibiotic or proton pump inhibitor use, hospitalization, other health problems, and older age. Surfaces may become contaminated with the spores with further spread occurring via the hands of healthcare workers. Ĭlostridioides difficile infection is spread by bacterial spores found within feces. Complications may include pseudomembranous colitis, toxic megacolon, perforation of the colon, and sepsis. Antibiotics can contribute to detrimental changes in gut microbiota specifically, they decrease short-chain fatty acid absorption which results in osmotic, or watery, diarrhea. It makes up about 20% of cases of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Symptoms include watery diarrhea, fever, nausea, and abdominal pain. Metronidazole, vancomycin, fidaxomicin, fecal microbiota transplantation Ĭlostridioides difficile infection ( CDI or C-diff), also known as Clostridium difficile infection, is a symptomatic infection due to the spore-forming bacterium Clostridioides difficile. Hand washing, terminal room cleaning in hospital Stool culture, testing for the bacteria's DNA or toxins Pseudomembranous colitis, toxic megacolon, perforation of the colon, sepsis Ĭlostridioides difficile spread by the fecal-oral route Īntibiotics, proton pump inhibitors, hospitalization, other health problems, older age Pathological specimen showing pseudomembranous colitisĭiarrhea, fever, nausea, abdominal pain difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD), Clostridium difficile infection, C. Medical condition Clostridioides difficile infectionĬ.