Clostridium difficile: a formidable foe

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Abstract
In this issue, Susan Poutanen and Andrew Simor provide a detailed review of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment and control of CDAD.1 Despite this knowledge, the incidence of CDAD continues to increase in many hospitals across Canada, the United States and elsewhere. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have analyzed secular trends in the incidence of CDAD and reported a steady increase from 1987 to 2001.2 Of 440 infectious disease physicians in the US who participated in a recent Web-based poll, 30% reported that they are seeing higher rates of CDAD, more severe fulminant CDAD and more relapsing CDAD than in the past.