Clostridium Difficile Infection: An Increasing Postsurgical Complication

Over the past decade the incidence of Clostridium Difficile infection has increased worldwide. Virulent forms of this organism have developed augmenting the morbidity and mortality of the disease. Surgical patients, especially those undergoing gastrointestinal surgery and solid organ transplantation, express high rates of CDI. Risk factors such as older age, prolonged preoperative hospital stay, use of broad spectrum antibiotics, and immunosuppression, have been identified. Given the high morbidity and mortality rates in this group of patients, implementation of targeted strategies to reduce infection risk must be applied.