Gut Liver.  2014 Jan;8(1):1-6.

Clostridium difficile Infection: A Worldwide Disease

Affiliations
  • 1Division of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA. jlamont@bidmc.harvard.edu

Abstract

Clostridium difficile, an anaerobic toxigenic bacterium, causes a severe infectious colitis that leads to significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Both enhanced bacterial toxins and diminished host immune response contribute to symptomatic disease. C. difficile has been a well-established pathogen in North America and Europe for decades, but is just emerging in Asia. This article reviews the epidemiology, microbiology, pathophysiology, and clinical management of C. difficile. Prompt recognition of C. difficile is necessary to implement appropriate infection control practices.

Keyword

Clostridium difficile; Epidemiology; Review; Asia

MeSH Terms

Asia/epidemiology
Clostridium Infections/*diagnosis/epidemiology/microbiology/*therapy
Clostridium difficile/genetics/*pathogenicity
Europe/epidemiology
Global Health
Humans
North America/epidemiology
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