Preventing Recurrence of Clostridium difficile Infection

Fidaxomicin is a minimally absorbed antibiotic with a low incidence of adverse effects. Compared with vancomycin — a standard therapy for Clostridium difficile infection — fidaxomicin has a more narrow antimicrobial spectrum, kills C. difficile bacteria rather than inhibiting their growth (as well as that of healthy gut microflora), and has a more prolonged postantibiotic effect.

To compare the efficacy of these two drugs in treating patients with C. difficile infection, industry-sponsored researchers conducted a phase III, randomized, double-blind, multicenter, noninferiority trial, in which 629 patients with acute C. difficile infection received either fidaxomicin (200 mg, alternated with placebo) or vancomycin (125 mg) every 6 hours for 1…