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Gastrointestinal Emergencies pp 353–356Cite as

Clostridium Difficile

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Abstract

Center for Disease Control (CDC) data in 2011 found the incidence of Clostridium difficile was approximately 500,000, with 29,000 deaths attributed to C. difficile infections (CDI). One third (66%) were healthcare associated. Initially thought to occur following clindamycin use (Bartlett. Ann Intern Med 145:758–64, 2006), it is now understood that most antibiotics contribute to its colonization and overgrowth, due to disruption of normal intestinal flora. CDI symptoms can be mild to severe and can have severe health impacts, especially on the elderly. Treatment includes antibiotics, rehydration, and in severe cases surgical consultation for toxic megacolon.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Georgetown University School of Medicine, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Washington, DC, USA

    Alexa R. Gale & Matthew Wilson

Authors
  1. Alexa R. Gale
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  2. Matthew Wilson
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Correspondence to Alexa R. Gale .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Emergency Medicine, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA

    Autumn Graham

  2. Department of Emergency Medicine, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA

    David J. Carlberg

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Gale, A.R., Wilson, M. (2019). Clostridium Difficile. In: Graham, A., Carlberg, D.J. (eds) Gastrointestinal Emergencies. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98343-1_101

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98343-1_101

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-98342-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-98343-1

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