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Paediatric Antimicrobial Guidance
Treatment of Malaria
Gentamicin Prescribing (Paediatrics)
Influenza A
HIV Testing Guidelines
Clostridiodes difficile Infection
Blood Culture
OPAT SBAR (Complex Infections)
Staphylococcus aureus Bacteraemia (SAB)
Neutropenic Sepsis
Antibiotics and the Kidney
Acute Diarrhoea
Suspected Meningitis
Suspected Sepsis
Gentamicin Dosing
Urinary Tract Infection
Vancomycin Dosing
Cellulitis
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Clostridiodes difficile Infection
Last updated 17th November 2022
Aetiology, Presentation and Diagnosis
- Important bacterial cause of infective diarrhoea.
- Most commonly occurs in people who have had a course of antibiotic within the last two months
- Some antibiotics are more likely than others to cause CDI, especially coamoxyclav, cephalosporins, ciprofloxacin and clindamycin (the four Cs)
- Outbreaks can occur in hospitals and care homes
- Symptoms can range from mild diarrhoea to life threatening inflammation of the bowel
- In mild to moderate infection there may be watery diarrhoea with cramping abdominal pain, nausea and fever.
- Symptoms of severe infection include watery diarrhoea up to 15 times per day with blood or pus in the stool in addition to the above
- Diagnosis requires demonstration of C. diff toxin in liquid stool
- Click here for link to other causes of acute diarrhoea
Management Including Treatment of Recurrent CDI
- For management of CDI see flow chart below – oral Vancomycin is now used first line in all cases
- Daily severity review is required for each patient by the medical team (sticker inserted into notes)
- For information on recurrent presentations or alternative routes of administration of vancomycin (if oral route is compromised), please contact the duty microbiologist or the infectious diseases consultant on call
- Note: Discontinue C. diff treatment if stool sample is Clostridiodes difficile toxin negative or alternate diagnosis confirmed
Links
- C. diff Flowchart [pdf]
- Updated advice on Clostridioides difficile (C.diff) Infection (CDI) [from SAPG]
- NHSD&G Empirical Antibiotic Guidelines for Secondary Care [pdf]
- NHSD&G Empirical Antibiotic Guidelines for Primary Care [pdf]
Content by Dr Sharon Irvine, Consultant Physician