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.
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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.