title: C. difficile Infection: Changing Epidemiology and Management Paradigms.
abstract: The incidence of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has been rising in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and within the community. Cases have been more severe with more complications, deaths, and higher healthcare-associated costs. With the emergence of a hypervirulent strain of C. difficile and the increasing prevalence of community-acquired CDI among healthy patients without traditional risk factors, the epidemiology of C. difficile has been evolving. This changing epidemiology requires a change in management. Taking into account new risk factors for CDI and growing subpopulations of affected individuals, diagnostic, treatment, and prevention approaches need to be adjusted.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Vindigni
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA.
authors.forename: Christina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Surawicz