Evaluating patient susceptibility in Clostridium difficile infection

Abstract

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is the leading cause of nosocomial diarrhoea and causes substantial morbidity and mortality. Efforts to reduce the impact of CDI have succeeded in reducing rates through antibiotic stewardship, improved diagnostic testing and optimisation of infection control measures. Further reductions in CDI could be achieved through a better understanding of what makes patients susceptible to CDI. Such knowledge would support interventions targeting patients most at risk and help develop treatments to reduce susceptibility. The aim of this thesis was to further our understanding of patient susceptibility to CDI by investigation of three specific areas.

Date of Award	Apr 2013
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Brighton