| Theme |
Recent trend in infectious diseases of the intestine |
| Title |
Clostridium difficile infection |
| Author |
Ken-ichi Tarumi |
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kawasaki Medical School |
| Author |
Akiko Shiotani |
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kawasaki Medical School |
| Author |
Ken Haruma |
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kawasaki Medical School |
| [ Summary ] |
Clostridium difficile infection has been reported to be an important cause of nosocomial diarrhea. Antibiotic exposure is the most important risk factor for C. difficile infection, because antibiotics are believed to cause this infection by disrupting the normal intestinal flora. This results in an overgrowth of C. difficile. C. difficile-associated disease (CDAD) has sometimes exhibited an association with pseudomembranous colitis, as observed with colonoscopy. CDAD has often been diagnosed by using a rapid toxin test which can measure both CD toxin A and B. CDAD is usually treated with metronidazole or vancomycin. In cases of easy-relapse, vancomycin tapered-pulse therapy is sometimes effective. |