by L. Clifford McDonald MD, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Rebecca H. Sunenshine, Md, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cleveland Clinic Journal Of Medicine Volume 73 • Number 2 February 2006, and published on the CDC’s website. Report and case study about the epidemic spread of a new and dangerous strain of C-dif bacteria in health-care facilities. Includes discussion of the causative role of excessive use of antibiotics, some of which are known to pose a high risk of C-Dif by killing the natural bacteria found in the intestines which would otherwise fight against the C-Dif bacteria. Discusses the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments for this potentially deadly and very difficult to treat bacteria that poses a significant risk to the elderly who are hospitalized or live in an institutional setting.
