Probiotics and Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea

Abstract

Clostridium difficile is now recognised as the major cause of hospital acquired infectious diarrhoea. Data from Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital (SCGH) in Perth, Western Australia, is typical of many similar hospitals in developed countries. SCGH is a 600 bed adult university teaching hospital. During the period 1983 to 1992, C. difficile was detected in 917 patients who were being investigated for diarrhoeal illness. Up to 120 patients a year were infected, most of these being elderly females. Incidence rates increased from 23/100,000 occupied bed days in 1983 to 56/100,000 occupied bed days in 1990.