CME Credits: 1.50

Type: Oral

Summary: CDI is increasing in incidence and severity. Reports of a more virulent and resistant strain of C. difficile causing epidemics in the US and elsewhere have heightened the awareness of clinicians and infection preventionists. CDI remains a serious threat to hospitalized patients. In this session, participants will receive up-to-date information about the global epidemiology of CDI, including the impact of community-associated CDI. Relevant zoonotic issues will also be discussed. Accurate diagnosis and treatment of CDI is essential for patient management and infection prevention. Recently, two and three-step testing systems have been developed for earlier and more accurate recognition of CDI. Prevention of CDI is more critical now than ever. Several guidelines have outlined effective interventions for prevention of CDI in hospitalized patients. The evidence behind the use of bundles and preemptive isolation will be reviewed. Probiotics have been used in an attempt to prevent CDI, without significant success. New strategies, especially use of a nonpathogenic strain of C. difficile appear promising for prevention of CDI.