Clostridium difficile: Progress and challenges

John G. Bartlett

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

76 Scopus citations

Abstract

There is a surge of new interest in C. difficile infection (CDI) reflecting substantial increases in cases and fatalities. The new challenges by this now old pathogen have brought renewed interest in all facets of the disease. Particularly important are the role of fluoroquinolones as inducing agents, the new polymerase chain reaction test to detect toxigenic strains in stools, the important role of the NAP-1 strain, recent evidence favoring oral vancomycin over metronidazole in seriously ill patients, and new guidelines for management.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)62-69
Number of pages8
JournalAnnals of the New York Academy of Sciences
Volume1213
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2010

Keywords

  • Antibiotic-associated colitis
  • C. difficile
  • Clostridium difficile
  • Epidemiology
  • Fluoroquinolones
  • New guidelines, tests, and treatments
  • Oral vancomycin
  • Pseudomenbraneous colitis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • History and Philosophy of Science

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