An Overview of the Diagnosis and Management of Clostridium difficile Infection

Abstract

The diagnosis and treatment of Clostridium difficile infection are becoming increasingly complex with the introduction of novel diagnostic techniques and new pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments. The integration of these new approaches with older, established methods is a challenge to individual clinicians and hospital systems. This article provides an overview of the current methods for the diagnosis and treatment of C difficile infection.

Keywords:

• Clostridium difficile
• C difficile
• pseudomembranous colitis
• diagnosis
• management
• vancomycin
• metronidazole