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Updated: May 8, 2026

Culturing and Maintaining Clostridium difficile in an Anaerobic Environment
Published on: September 14, 2013
Prevention and Control of Clostridioides difficile Infection for the Infectious Diseases Clinician
Lea Monday1, Amar Krishna2, Teena Chopra1
1Division of Infectious Diseases, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.
Abstract:
This article highlights the challenges of preventing Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in health care settings. It emphasizes a multifaceted approach including hand hygiene, contact precautions, environmental cleaning, and antimicrobial stewardship. Diagnostic stewardship, using combined testing algorithms and electronic alerts, helps reduce unnecessary testing and misdiagnosis. Emerging strategies like microbiome restoration, vaccines, and monoclonal antibodies are under active investigation. When CDI rates remain high despite standard measures, additional interventions such as sporicidal disinfectants and no-touch technologies may be necessary. Overall, a comprehensive, adaptive approach is essential to effectively reduce CDI incidence and improve patient outcomes.
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