Clostridium difficile Infection Guidelines with New Diagnosis, Treatment, and Pediatric Recommendations

Metronidazole is no longer recommended as first-line treatment for adults; nucleic acid testing alone is discouraged unless institutional guidelines limit the collection of specimens to those at increased risk for CDI.

Sponsoring Organization: Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA)

Target Audience: Infectious diseases physicians, gastroenterologists, hospitalists, clinical pharmacists, clinical microbiologists, and infection preventionists

Background and Objective

Since publication of the previous Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) guidelines in 2010, knowledge regarding epidemiology, testing, and treatment of CDI has progressed considerably. The new guidelines incorporate these advances. Pediatric populations are now covered by these recommendations as well.

Key Points

The guidelines recommend two possible testing strategies:
1. If institutional agreements limit testing to patients with ≥3 unfor…

Reviewing Author

Daniel Kaul, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNobelpharma; Pfizer

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Transplantation (Program Committee)