C difficile: Summer 2025 Clinical Recap

June

Evolving Challenges in C difficile Testing: Diagnostic Stewardship or Laboratory Retrogression?
Study questions added value of enzyme immunoassays alongside PCR, citing sensitivity concerns and clinical impact.

Outpatient C difficile Cases Reveal Diagnostic Gaps and PPI-Linked Risks
ASM Microbe data emphasize NAAT’s role in outpatient CDI diagnosis and spotlight PPI-associated risk in older patients.

AI Tool Demonstrates Potential to Support Antimicrobial Stewardship and Reduce C difficile in Hospitals
An AI-guided infection-prevention bundle increased stewardship activity despite no significant CDI incidence reduction.

July

Real-World Use of Fecal Microbiota, Live-Jslm Shows High Success in Preventing Recurrent C difficile Infection
Multicenter US experience supports RBL as a safe, effective microbiota-based option with sustained rCDI remission.

Effectiveness of Oral Vancomycin in Preventing C difficile Remains Uncertain After Trial
Randomized data leave the role of prophylactic oral vancomycin for CDI prevention unresolved in at-risk patients.

A Young Mother With C difficile Deals With Social Isolation, Concerns of Recurrence
Patient perspective details CDI during pregnancy, recovery challenges, and peer-support resources through the Peggy Lillis Foundation.

Study Explores Therapeutic Approaches to Enhance FMT Success in C difficile Treatment
Multidose capsules or colonoscopy after extended antibiotic pretreatment yield the highest FMT success rates for rCDI.

August

Can We Predict and Prevent C difficile Colonization?
Personalized gut microbiome modeling may identify CDI colonization risk and guide targeted probiotic interventions.

Antibiotic Stewardship Alone May Be Insufficient for Preventing C Diff Infections
Colonization status drives hospital-onset CDI risk, suggesting prevention must pair stewardship with targeted colonization control.

Microbiota-Based Therapies Show Superior Outcomes for Recurrent C difficile Infection
Systematic review finds FMT and standardized microbiome products outperform antibiotics for rCDI efficacy and safety.

No Shortcuts With C difficile: What Electronic Hand Hygiene Reminders Tell Us About Hand Washing Prevention
Electronic prompts improve adherence but reinforce that consistent, thorough hand hygiene remains central to CDI prevention.

September

LPOXY Secures $28M to Launch Pivotal STOP-Cdiff Trial for C difficile Prevention
New funding advances a pivotal prophylaxis study aiming to reduce CDI incidence in high-risk populations.

Guideline Vs Reality: Survey of Clinician Preferences in the Management of Clostridioides difficile Infection in Adults Highlights Barriers to Optimal Care
Clinician responses reveal departures from guideline-concordant CDI management and identify practical barriers to optimal diagnosis and treatment.

National Survey Shows More Than Half of Respondents Were Not Aware of C difficile
Despite rising awareness, gaps persist, underscoring the need for public education on C difficile transmission, risk, and prevention.