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New Medication On The Market In The Battle Against C-Dif Infection

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Believe it or not, one of the biggest concerns you can have when you go to the hospital is getting a hospital-inquired infection.

MRSA got most of its traction and development in the hospital setting. Another hospital-inquired infection is clostridium difficile, or C-Dif. C-Dif is an infection that usually effects older patients and can cause symptoms ranging from diarrhea, to potentially life-threatening inflammation of the colon. It is a very serious problem.

Now the FDA has approved a new medication in the battle against C-Dif. The drug is called fidaxomicin and it joins vancomycin and others as weapons against C-Dif.

Of course, the biggest protection is avoiding the spread in the first place. One of the best ways to do that is by consistently washing hands in the hospital setting.

Reported by Medical Editor Dr. Brian McDonough, KYW Newsradio

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