Abstract
Clostridium difficile is the most important cause of nosocomial diarrhea in adults. Illness may range from mild watery diarrhea to life-threatening colitis. An antecedent disruption of the normal colonic flora followed by exposure to a toxigenic strain of C. difficile are necessary first steps in the pathogenesis of disease. Diagnosis is based primarily on the detection of C. difficile toxin A or toxin B. First-line treatment is with oral metronidazole therapy. Treatment with oral vancomycin therapy should be reserved for patients who have contraindications or intolerance to metronidazole or who fail to respond to first-line therapy.
MeSH terms
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Anti-Infective Agents / therapeutic use
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Bacterial Typing Techniques
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Canada / epidemiology
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Carrier State / microbiology
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Clostridioides difficile* / isolation & purification
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Clostridioides difficile* / pathogenicity
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Clostridium Infections* / diagnosis
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Clostridium Infections* / drug therapy
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Clostridium Infections* / epidemiology
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Clostridium Infections* / physiopathology
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Cross Infection / diagnosis
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Cross Infection / drug therapy
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Cross Infection / microbiology*
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Cross Infection / physiopathology
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Diarrhea / diagnosis
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Diarrhea / drug therapy
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Diarrhea / microbiology*
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Diarrhea / physiopathology
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Humans
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Metronidazole / therapeutic use
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Recurrence
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Risk Factors
Substances
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Anti-Infective Agents
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Metronidazole