title: Clostridium difficile infection: prevention, treatment, and surgical management.
abstract: Clostridium difficile is increasing in both incidence and severity. Although metronidazole and vancomycin remain the gold standard for medical management, and surgical colectomy the gold standard for surgical management, new treatment alternatives, including the creation of a diverting loop ileostomy along with colonic lavage and vancomycin enemas, are being investigated that may lead to changes in the current treatment algorithms. The most exciting development in the treatment options for C difficile infection, however, is likely to be novel immunologic agents, which hold the potential to reduce the incidence, mortality, and costs associated with C difficile.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Lothrop St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Jason A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Luciano
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Lothrop St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Surgery, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, University Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15240, USA. Electronic address: zuckerbraunbs@upmc.edu.
authors.forename: Brian S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Zuckerbraun
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003082:Colectomy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007081:Ileostomy; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Colectomy; Fecal microbiota therapy; Ileostomy; Vancomycin