[Nosocomial acquisition of Clostridium difficile infections]

Clostridium difficile (CD) is associated with diarrhea in hospital patients receiving antibiotic therapy and may be nosocomially acquired. An outbreak of CD diarrhea was observed among elderly patients in acute hospital and geriatric rehabilitation wards. All but 1 patient presenting with diarrhea had a toxin-positive stool culture. Of patients with CD toxin-positive cultures, 4 died, 5 recovered completely and 1 became a chronic carrier. Effective preventive measures are needed to reduce nosocomial acquisition of CD.