简介：Currently, Clostridium difficile rivals methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as the most common organism to cause healthcare-associated infections in the United States. Incidence of C. difficile infection (CDI) has also increased in Canada, Europe, and other parts of the world. CDI is associated with increased lengths of hospital stay, medical costs, morbidity, and mortality (attributable mortality rate of 6.9% at 30 days after diagnosis and 16.7% at 1 year) among hospitalized patients.