[Colitis precipitated by Clostridium difficile -  a serious current problem]

Clostridium difficile is currently considered a significant cause of nosocomial infection. The probability of a colonisation of hospitalised patients rises with the length of their stay in hospital and depends on the local epidemiologic situation. Interdisciplinary collaboration is the foundation of the effort to limit the development of this very serious, often fatal disease. The basic element is a rational antibiotic therapy which builds on the knowledge that the administration of antibiotics, even though based on a correct indication, may be fatal in an environment which is massively contaminated by spores of Clostridium difficile. Consequently, the high risk antibiotics (such as aminopenicillins, fluoroquinolones or cefalosporins) should be administered only in such cases where they cannot be substituted by antibiotics with a lower risk of CDI.