title: Clostridium difficile in long-term-care facilities for the elderly.
abstract: Antimicrobial agents are among the most frequently prescribed medications in long-term-care facilities (LTCFs). Therefore, it is not surprising that Clostridium difficile colonization and C. difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) occur commonly in elderly LTCF residents. C. difficile has been identified as the most common cause of non-epidemic acute diarrheal illness in nursing homes, and outbreaks of CDAD in LTCFs have also been recognized. This position paper reviews the epidemiology and clinical features of CDAD in elderly residents of LTCFs and, using available evidence, provides recommendations for the management of C. difficile in this setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Andrew E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Simor
authors.forename: Suzanne F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: Larry J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Strausbaugh
authors.forename: Kent
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Crossley
authors.forename: Lindsay E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Nicolle
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D009735:Nursing Homes; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents