title: Clostridium difficile: causes and interventions.
abstract: Human infection with Clostridium difficile can take many forms. It can exist in many patients who are relatively well or who have symptoms similar to irritable bowel syndrome. It can also infect the patient in the acute care facility. These patients typically have received antibiotics for more than 3 days and begin to experience foul-smelling, watery stools within a few days of initiation of antibiotic coverage. Good hand washing and environmental cleanliness remain the primary ways of preventing the spread of this infection from patient to patient. The possibility of using probiotics to replace the beneficial bacteria should be pursued.
authors.affiliation: Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing, 3700 Worth Street, Dallas, TX 75246, USA. Theresa_Posani@Baylor.edu
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Posani
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016360:Clostridioides difficile; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012106:Research / Q000458:organization & administration; D012307:Risk Factors; D012657:Self-Help Groups
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents