U.S Pharmacist recently updated best practices for management of Clostridium difficile for adults. The update published in the journal states:
“Clostridioides difficile is a pathogen known to cause diarrhea and colitis. If not properly treated, it can recur as well as progress to life-threatening conditions such as toxic megacolon and multiorgan failure. Guideline updates released in 2018 reflect notable changes in treatment of C difficile infection (CDI). Metronidazole is no longer recommended as first-line therapy for adults; oral vancomycin and fidaxomicin are now recommended. Current guidelines recommend fecal microbiota transplantation for patients with multiple recurrences of CDI in whom antibiotic treatment has failed. Pharmacist involvement in antibiotic stewardship programs has been shown to significantly reduce hospital rates of CDI.”
For more on antibiotic stewardship, contact Meg Kilcup. For more on CDI prevention, contact Sandra Assasnik.
