Clostridium difficile infection - 2017 Data Snapshot
Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) is an anaerobic, spore-forming, gram-positive bacillus typically associated with gastrointestinal disease. Transmission of C. difficile occurs by ingestion of spores either through person-to-person contact, animal-to-person contact or environment-to-person contact.
C. difficile infection (CDI) can cause life-threatening diarrhoea and is the leading healthcare-related gastrointestinal infection in the world, and each year in Australia, there are around 6,000 cases of CDI. CDI is associated with prolonged and unnecessary use of broad-spectrum antimicrobials, hospitalisation, advanced age and underlying morbidity.
The 2017 Data Snapshot provides valuable information which can be used to support care for patients and inform strategies to improve practice and minimise preventable CDI.
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