Clostridium difficile infection: a new threat on our doorstep

Clinicians need to be aware of the clinical picture, diagnosticmethods and new therapeutic approaches to this disease. TheAustralasian Society for Infectious Diseases has published guide-lines in this issue of the Journal that clearly outline clinicalassessment, diagnostic issues and treatment guidelines (

[1]  R. Owens.  Clostridium difficile-Associated Disease , 2012, Drugs.

[2]  T. Riley,et al.  Severe infection with Clostridium difficile PCR ribotype 027 acquired in Melbourne, Australia , 2011, The Medical journal of Australia.

[3]  T. Riley,et al.  Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of Clostridium difficile infection , 2011, The Medical journal of Australia.

[4]  J. Ferguson,et al.  ASID/AICA position statement – Infection control guidelines for patients with Clostridium difficile infection in healthcare settings , 2011 .

[5]  Guang-xi Li,et al.  Clinical practice guidelines for Clostridium difficile infection in adults:2010 update by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America(SHEA)and the Infectious Diseases Society of America(IDSA) , 2011 .

[6]  T. Riley,et al.  First Australian isolation of epidemic Clostridium difficile PCR ribotype 027 , 2009, The Medical journal of Australia.

[7]  M. Cruickshank,et al.  Reducing harm to patients from healthcare associated infection: the role of surveillance (draft report) , 2009 .

[8]  Helen Burstin,et al.  Strategies to Prevent Clostridium difficile Infections in Acute Care Hospitals , 2008, Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.

[9]  E. Kuijper,et al.  Community-onset Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea not associated with antibiotic usage--two case reports with review of the changing epidemiology of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea. , 2008, The Netherlands journal of medicine.

[10]  J. Heins.  Clostridium difficile-associated disease. , 2006, South Dakota medicine : the journal of the South Dakota State Medical Association.

[11]  J. Bartlett.  Narrative Review: The New Epidemic of Clostridium difficileAssociated Enteric Disease , 2006, Annals of Internal Medicine.

[12]  M. Owings,et al.  Clostridium difficile infection in patients discharged from US short-stay hospitals, 1996-2003. , 2006, Emerging infectious diseases.

[13]  J. Gerberding,et al.  Severe Clostridium difficile-associated disease in populations previously at low risk--four states, 2005. , 2005, MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report.