title: Clostridium difficile colitis: a review.
abstract: Clostridium difficile has become an increasingly important nosocomial pathogen and is one of the most common causes of hospital-acquired diarrhea. The incidence of C difficile infection (CDI) is increasing worldwide. Overuse of antibiotics is felt to be a major contributing factor leading to the increased incidence of CDI. The clinical manifestations of CDI vary from a mild form of the disease to fulminant diarrhea, leading to significant patient morbidity and mortality. The increasing incidence of CDI has a major impact on increasing health care costs. This article will summarize the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, laboratory diagnosis, and treatment options for CDI, as well as infection-control measures for the prevention of CDI.
authors.affiliation: Director, Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI 48106, USA. moudgalv@trinity-health.org
authors.forename: Varsha
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Moudgal
authors.forename: Jack D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Sobel
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016360:Clostridioides difficile; D003113:Colonoscopy; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents