BMJ  2005;331:498-501 (3 September), doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7515.498

Clinical review

Clostridium difficile associated diarrhoea: diagnosis and treatment

University of Edinburgh js011q1400@blueyonder.co.uk

While John Starr was working as a senior registrar at the Hammersmith Hospital in London, an upsurge in episodes of Clostridium difficile associated diarrhoea seemed to be associated with increasing use of third generation cephalosporins. This article seeks to clarify some of the diagnostic problems and help with appropriate treatment of this condition.

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Introduction

Clostridium difficile associated diarrhoea is a serious condition with a mortality of up to 25% in frail elderly people.¹ It affects older, frailer, hospitalised patients and also younger patients who are immunosuppressed.

Cross infection by C difficile is common in neonatal units, but neonates do not seem to develop C difficile associated diarrhoea.

The diagnosis of C difficile associated diarrhoea depends on:

• Presence of diarrhoea, defined as an increase in stool liquidity usually accompanied by an increased frequency of bowel motions. A formal cut-off is the passing of more than 300 ml of liquid stool in 24 hours
  
• Detection of toxins produced by C difficile in the stools.
  

The patient may also experience abdominal pain and have systemic features of malaise, fever, dehydration, and delirium. A pseudomembranous colitis is present in severe cases. In this state there is sloughing of the colonic epithelium, which is severely inflamed due to the . . . [Full text of this article]

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