Treatment of clostridium difficile colitis in the critical care setting.
Clostridium difficile colitis is a debilitating infection with a remarkably high associated mortality. Infection is contagious and spreads especially rapidly in an intensive care setting because patients who are there have all the associated risk factors, including major underlying illnesses, prior antibiotic therapy, and use of agents that suppress gastric acidity. Prevention of disease is the responsibility of every health care provider in the critical care setting. This article emphasizes treatment of Clostridium difficile colitis, considers diagnostic techniques, and describes means for preventing the spread of this infection in the intensive care setting.
Musher
Daniel M
DM
Infectious Disease Section, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 2002 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA. daniel.musher@med.va.gov
Aslam
Saima
S
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D012307:Risk Factors
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents