ACTA FAC. MED. NAISS. 2006; 23(2):99-105

Review article

Stojanovic Predrag, Kocic Branislava, Randjelovic Gordana, Mladenovic-Antic Snezana

Faculty of Medicine Nis, Public Health Institute Nis

SUMMARY

Clostridium difficile is a Gram-positive, spore-forming, anaerobic bacillus widely distributed in the environment. However, it is found as a part of the normal large intestine flora in approximately 2% of normal adults. C. difficile is now thought to be responsible for a wide range of diseases from asymptomatic colonization, to diarrhea of varying severity, life-threatening colitis, often as a consequence of antibiotic exposure. This spectrum has become known as "C. difficile associated disease (CDAD)". Effective control of CDAD in the hospital requires both antibiotic control and prevention of environmental seeding and bacterial spread. Epidemic C. difficile strains are widely distributed in the hospital environment, both as a cause and result of nosocomial diarrhea. Current treatment options are antibiotic-based, which is less than ideal. The use of various biotherapeutic preparations was not as efficient as we expected.

Key words: Clostridium difficile, hospital infection, diarrhea