CDI - Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile infection
Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile (CDI) is a common cause of infectious diarrhoea in patients which may occur for several reasons including:
- after taking medications such as antibiotics or proton pump inhibitors,
- being hospitalised
- aving multiple comorbidities or being immune compromised
- suffering from intestinal disorders
- having an nasogastric tube insitu.
CDI can have devastating effects for patients:
- length of hospital stay is increased
- severe or complicated cases can also cause severe colitis, significant systemic toxin effects and shock
- complicated cases may require ICU admission or colectomy, and can result in death.
Since 2000, there has been an increase in the rates of CDI in many healthcare facilities worldwide that has been associated with an epidemic strain of C. difficile. This strain (PCR ribotype 027) was first locally transmitted in Australia in Victoria in 2010. In the United States, C. difficile now rivals methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as the most common healthcare-associated infection (HAI), accounting for $3.2 billion in excess costs annually.
CDI management strategies
Strategies to reduce risk of spread of C. difficile in the healthcare setting include initiation of SIGHT protocol on immediate suspicion, standard and contact precautions, cleaning of equipment and the environment and antimicrobial stewardship.
Refer to Appendix 1 - CDI Quick Reference Guide (PDF 103 kB)
More information
Guideline for management of patients with Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile infection (CDI) (PDF 360 kB) Queensland Health.
Clostridioides difficile infections – consumer factsheet provided by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.
Clostridiodes difficile infection technical reports: Technical reports on monitoring and reducing the prevalence of Clostridioides difficile infection in Australia.