Report Shows New Developments For Fighting C. Diff Infections
By Dr. Brian McDonough
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Clostridium difficile or C-DIFF is the cause of one of the most common healthcare associated infections. It's been linked to about 29,000 deaths in the United States each of the last few years.
The infection has a re-occurrence rate of about 25 percent once patients have it. But not all strains of C difficile have this re-occurrence problem. That's because, not all produce a very dangerous toxin.
A report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that the non-toxigenic C-difficile strains can be introduced into the bodies of people who have serious infections.
The researchers say that once it's introduced and antibiotics are given, the patients are doing quite well. It's another potential treatment that could help a very serious problem.
