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Updated: Jun 18, 2026
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Fecal Microbiota Transplantation via Colonoscopy for Recurrent C. difficile Infection
Published on: December 8, 2014
Clostridium difficile infection following chemotherapy
Shahzad Raza1, Mahadi A Baig, Helena Russell
1Department of Medicine Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, New York, NY 11212 USA. razashahzad2@gmail.com
Recent Patents on Anti-Infective Drug Discovery
|November 26, 2009
Summary
Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a growing healthcare concern, especially in chemotherapy patients. This review covers recent insights into CDI epidemiology, diagnosis, and management strategies.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Gastroenterology
- Oncology
Background:
- Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) poses a significant threat to healthcare systems, exacerbated by a hypervirulent strain epidemic.
- Chemotherapeutic agents are identified as risk factors for CDI, contributing to morbidity and mortality.
- Current management strategies for chemotherapy-associated CDI lack robust randomized trials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent insights into the epidemiology of CDI.
- To discuss advancements in the diagnosis and management of CDI, particularly in chemotherapy patients.
- To explore emerging treatment strategies and patents for CDI.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent studies on Clostridium difficile infection.
- Analysis of epidemiological data, diagnostic methods, and treatment approaches.
- Examination of patents and novel therapeutic strategies for CDI.
Main Results:
- CDI is a major cause of healthcare-associated infections, increasing hospital stays and costs.
- Chemotherapy is a significant risk factor for severe CDI outcomes.
- There is a need for updated management algorithms due to evolving resistance and rising cancer incidence.
Conclusions:
- Effective management of CDI requires understanding evolving epidemiology and risk factors.
- Rapid diagnosis and prompt toxin identification are crucial for timely intervention.
- Further research, including randomized trials, is needed for optimal treatment of chemotherapy-associated CDI.
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