Clostridium difficile infection: emerging concepts and treatments.
Clostridium difficile infection has become one of the most common causes of diarrhea in patients frequenting hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and physicians' offices. Although the pathogenesis and clinical description were well elucidated three decades ago, cure during the initial episode now occurs in fewer than two thirds of patients exhibiting clinical illness. The past decade has brought a new strain with more toxin. Frequent relapses in elderly patients are now the norm rather than a rarity. This review is intended to update clinicians regarding diagnosis, infection control, and treatment, including treatment of the difficult-to-treat patient with multiple relapses of C. difficile infection.
Mathew
Thomas
T
Scripps Clinic, Mail Drop 201N, Division of Infectious Diseases, 10666 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
Higginbottom
Philip A
PA
D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000378:metabolism; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000635:transmission; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000635:transmission; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans
D004768:Enterotoxins