title: Clostridium difficile: new therapeutic options.
abstract: Clostridium difficile disease is the major, known cause of nosocomial diarrhea and is an emerging cause of community-associated diarrhea. Recent outbreaks due to a strain of apparent increased virulence, BI/NAP1, and recognition of increasing metronidazole treatment failures as well as the morbidity associated with recurrent C. difficile disease have begun to spur studies to develop new therapies for C. difficile disease. Nitazoxanide, tolevamer, ramoplanin, and rifaximin are key agents being evaluated as new therapies for C. difficile disease. For now, vancomycin or metronidazole combined with discontinuation of antibiotics, when feasible, and expert infection control remain the mainstays of C. difficile disease management.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1830 East Monument Street, Room 439, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. abalago1@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Ashwin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balagopal
authors.forename: Cynthia L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Sears
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016360:Clostridioides difficile; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D047630:Depsipeptides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009574:Nitro Compounds; D011108:Polymers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013451:Sulfonic Acids; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D047630:Depsipeptides; D009574:Nitro Compounds; D011108:Polymers; D013451:Sulfonic Acids; D013844:Thiazoles; C041438:ramoplanin; C041747:nitazoxanide; D012293:Rifampin; C077114:styrenesulfonic acid polymer