Clostridioides difficile Infection: Updates on Epidemiologic Patterns, Diagnostic Tools, and Treatment Modalities

Abstract

Clostridioides difficile is the predominant worldwide etiology of healthcare-associated diarrhea. Furthermore, C. difficile infections (CDIs) have been designated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an urgent threat, which is the highest of all threat levels. Throughout the years, epidemiologic surveillance efforts and infection prevention measures have been focused on combating healthcare-associated CDIs. Nonetheless, the incidence of community-associated infection is currently witnessing an upsurge. In the meantime, insufficient clinicians’ awareness, inadequate frequency of testing, or a suboptimal diagnostic scheme can result in underdiagnosis with the subsequent pervasion of CDIs. Another factor contributing to the escalating morbidities is the scarcity of anti-clostridial therapeutics that can tackle notorious re-infections and relapses. Altogether, these factors warrant raising awareness about epidemiologic patterns, diagnostic algorithms, and the updated treatment regimens for CDI.

Keywords

• auranofin
• bezlotoxumab
• clostridioides difficile
• fidaxomicin
• naat