CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE INFECTION IN ANTIBIotic­ . INDUCED DIARRHEA.

Abstract

C.difficile is the most common cause of nosocomial diarrhea. It is an important cause of morbidity and is frequent cause of mortality among hospitalized patients (Brar and Surawicz, 2000).

Antibiotics. are the most frequent l y associated with aquistion of C.difficile infectio.n. Antibiotics alter the fecal flora allowing overgrowth of C.difficile w ith production of its toxins (Mylonakis eta!., 2001).

This work aimed to d etermine the prevalence of C.difficile in stool samples from patients suffering from diarrhea after prolonged use of antibiotics, to evaluate .the role of C.difficile in antibiotic associated diarrhea and to determine wh ich anti bi ot ics are most often responsible.

In this study, 80 indi vid u als were included and divided into 3 groups : Group I: (Hospl.talized diarrheal patients) :

Consisted of 40 hospitalized pati ents, who received antibiotics and developed diarrhea.

Group II : (Ilospitalized non-diarrheal patients) :

Consisted of20 hospitalized patients did not suffer from diarrhea.

Group III: (Control group) :

Consisted of 20 normal apparentl y healthy subjects.