title: Risk of diarrhoea, Clostridium difficile and cefotaxime in the elderly.
abstract: Clostridium difficile diarrhoea is an increasingly important nosocomial infection. Clostridium difficile infection is associated with antibiotic use. The elderly are at greatest risk. We reported an outbreak associated with the use of cefotaxime, a third-generation cephalosporin. We review the extent of this association, putative causal mechanisms and suggest an integrated approach to the control of C difficile infection which focuses on both limiting environmental contamination and reducing patient susceptibility. Future developments are also considered, especially the potential for vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Royal Victoria Hospital, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Starr
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Impallomeni
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002439:Cefotaxime / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000472:pathogenicity; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D002511:Cephalosporins; D002439:Cefotaxime