Thelansis

  Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is an anaerobic spore-forming bacillus that colonizes the intestinal tract in patients whose normal gut microbiota is disrupted by antibiotic therapy or any other reason. C difficile produces two major toxins—toxins A and B—that cause intestinal mucosal injury, diarrhea, and colitis. In some cases, fulminant infection leads to shock, ileus, and toxic megacolon. In high-income countries, C. difficile is the most common cause of infectious diarrhea in hospitalized patients. Between 20% and 35% of patients with C. difficile infection will fail initial antibiotic treatment, and, of these, 40–60% will have a second recurrence. Recurrence of C. difficile infection after initial treatment causes substantial morbidity and is a significant burden on health care systems. Antibiotics are the mainstay treatments for primary and recurrent CDI, with a recent trend toward vancomycin and fidaxomicin over metronidazole. Recurrent infections affect 15-35 perce...