The burden of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD)

Infection control measures can be expensive and extensive

Core measures1

  • Contact precautions for duration of illness
  • Hand hygiene in compliance with CDC/WHO
  • Cleaning and disinfection of equipment and environment
  • Laboratory-based alert system
  • CDI surveillance
  • Education

Supplemental measures1

  • Prolonged duration of contact precautions*
  • Presumptive isolation
  • Evaluate and optimize testing
  • Soap and water for hand hygiene upon exiting Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) room
  • Universal glove use on units with high CDI rates*
  • Bleach for environmental disinfection
  • Antimicrobial stewardship program

*Not included in CDC/HICPAC 2007 Guideline for Isolation Precautions.

CDAD is a growing public health concern

  • 70% of chronic-care ward patients and 26% of nursing home residents were found to have acquired C. difficile within 2 weeks of initiating antimicrobial therapy for another infection2
  • CDI > MRSA
    C. difficile infection has surpassed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as the leading cause of healthcare-acquired infections in community hospitals3
  • 6.5% of CDAD patients required intensive care4
  • 1.9% of CDAD patients required colectomy4

 

 

Important Safety Information

  • DIFICID is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to fidaxomicin
  • DIFICID should not be used for systemic infections
  • Acute hypersensitivity reactions (angioedema, dyspnea, pruritus, and rash) have been reported. In the event of a severe reaction, discontinue DIFICID.
  • Only use DIFICID for infection proven or strongly suspected to be caused by C. difficile.
    Prescribing DIFICID in the absence of a proven or strongly suspected C. difficile infection is unlikely to provide benefit to the patient and increases the risk of the development of drug- resistant bacteria.
  • The most common adverse reactions reported in clinical trials are nausea (11%), vomiting (7%), abdominal pain (6%), gastrointestinal hemorrhage (4%), anemia (2%), and neutropenia (2%)

 

Indications and Usage

  • DIFICID is a macrolide antibacterial drug indicated in adults ≥18 years of age for treatment of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea
  • To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of DIFICID and other antibacterial drugs, DIFICID should be used only to treat infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by Clostridium difficile

 

Please click here for full prescribing information for DIFICID.