How Preventable are Clostridium difficile Infections?

Gonzalo Bearman, MD, MPH, professor of medicine, and hospital epidemiologist, Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Virginia Commonwealth University, explains what is known about Clostridium difficile prevention and control.

Interview Transcript (slightly modified for readability)

“The extent to which C. difficile is preventable is still highly debatable. For example, the science of infection control can prevent central line-associated bloodstream infections much more effectively than C. difficile. We can prevent catheter-associated [urinary tract infections] much more effectively than C. difficile.

Much of C. difficile is probably coming from diverse reservoirs, it’s probably coming from the community and the environment and not necessarily hospital-acquired. So, the degree to which we can stop the transmission or alter the development of disease is still not well-defined.”