C. Difficile

The long-term health care burden after Clostridium difficile (C diff) infection (CDI) is great for elderly patients. But even nonelderly patients are at risk for gastrointestinal symptoms for up to 2 years afterward.

FDA has granted Fast Track designation for ACX-362E, an investigational new treatment for C diff that is being developed by Acurx Pharmaceuticals, LLC.

To explore the long-term outcomes of treatment for recurrent C diff, NIAID has launched a new trial that will follow patients for 4 years to assess the safety of fecal microbiota transplants.

Clostridium difficile (C diff) infection rates remained relatively stable in 2015 and 2011 even though the rate of health care-associated infections was lower, respectively, according to recent findings.

In a new study, researchers with the US Department of Veterans Affairs found that metronidazole is as effective as vancomycin for treating mild cases of Clostridium difficile infection, despite new guidelines no longer recommending metronidazole.

A novel study from Seddon and colleagues adds to the body of evidence that supports what antimicrobial stewardship programs are so often challenged to do, early de-escalation.

Nicola Petrosillo, MD, discusses current controversies in C difficile prevention and treatment.

Norman Javitt, MD, PhD, discusses the concept of using ursodeoxycholic acid and its potential role in suppressing C diff spores to prevent inflammation.

Sahil Khanna, MBBS, MS, discusses the efficacy of fecal transplants and new investigational candidates that are being evaluated in clinical trials.

Maureen Spencer, RN, M.Ed., discusses how rapid molecular diagnostics are changing the treatment timeline for sepsis and Clostridium difficile (C diff).

Glenn Tillotson, PhD discusses the development of new antibiotics and therapies for C diff during an era when antibiotic resistance is a serious global health threat.

Clostridium difficile infection leads to higher rates of overall mortality among patients with cirrhosis compared to those who do not, according to a new study.

Edmund A. Hooker, MD, DrPH, discussed the gaps in disinfection in the hospital and how hospital beds can be properly sanitized to prevent the spread healthcare-associatedted infections.

C diff and pneumonia still pose significant threats, according to the hospital survey.

Key considerations when choosing a treatment for gram-negative nosocomial infections include the patient’s referring facility.

A new report from the CDC shows substantial progress on the incidence of health care-associated infections in the United States, but there is still more work to be done.

Dale N Gerding, MD, provides insight about prevention options for C diff that are expected in the future.

In allogenic hematopoietic cell transplant patients, auto-FMT treatment led to the recovery of beneficial gut bacteria close to baseline levels within days.

Nimish Patel, PharmD, PhD, describes his study, which compared fidaxomicin with oral vancomycin in early targeted therapy of C diff.

Dale N. Gerding, MD, discusses bezlotoxumab and its use for preventing recurrent C diff infections.

Barbara Wells Trautner, MD, PhD, explains how overtreating asymptomatic bacteriuria can lead to antibiotic resistance or incorrect diagnoses.

A new study is the first to identify eosinophil counts as a predictor of outcomes in human patients.

New practical advice for the treatment of C difficile from SHEA advises against routine testing in NICU patients with diarrhea.

Nimish Patel, PharmD, PhD, discusses the updates to CDI management guidelines and the role of the pharmacists in providing education to physicians.

A new review examines previous studies and concludes that healthcare professionals could benefit from sensitivity training when dealing with patients who have HAIs.

Candidemia is a significant risk factor for C difficile infection in hospital patients.

Stay up-to-date on the latest infectious disease news by checking out our top 5 articles of the week.

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a widely accepted, safe, and effective treatment for recurrent Clostridium diffi­cile infection (rCDI), but does the cure endure?

Fidaxomicin and vancomycin are effective first-line therapies for Clostridium difficile, yet fidaxomicin may be more effective for achieving sustained symptomatic cure.

Dale N Gerding, MD, discusses the most recent changes to the guidelines of C difficile and the concerns of long-term effects of fecal microbiome transplants.