RT Book, Section
A1 Traugott, Kristi
A2 Attridge, Rebecca L.
A2 Miller, Monica L.
A2 Moote, Rebecca
A2 Ryan, Laurajo
SR Print(0)
ID 57292510
T1 Chapter 33. Clostridium Difficile Infections
T2 Internal Medicine: A Guide to Clinical Therapeutics
YR 2013
FD 2013
PB The McGraw-Hill Companies
PP New York, NY
SN 978-0-07-174580-2
LK accesspharmacy.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=57292510
RD 2024/04/24
AB Alteration  of  endogenous  colonic  flora  →  ingestion  of  Clostridium  difficile  spores  →  colonization  →  toxin  release  →  necrosis  &  inflammationDefinitions  of  C.  difficile  (C.  diff)  infection:  presence  of  diarrhea  (3  or  more  unformed  stools  in  ≤24h)  &  presence  of  toxigenic  C.  diff  or  its  toxins  or  pseudomembranous  colitis  by  colonoscopic  or  histopathological  findings  (Infect  Control  Hosp  Epidemiol  2010;31:431)  Risk  factors:  advanced  age,  duration  of  hospitalization,  antimicrobial  use  (esp.  clindamycin,  cephalosporins,  fluoroquinolones),  chemotherapy,  immunosuppression,  GI  surgery  or  manipulation,  acid-suppressing  medications  (H2  blockers  &  PPIs),  feeding  tubes  (especially  postpyloric)  (Infect  Control  Hosp  Epidemiol  2010;31:431;  Clin  Infect  Dis  2008;46:S19)