[Clostridioides difficile infections].

Here, we describe the epidemiology, diagnostics, and treatment of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in the primary health care setting. CDI is traditionally considered as a healthcare associated infection. However, infections with onset in the community represent a large proportion of CDI. Traditional CDI risk factors apply to the population encountered in general practice: age ≥50 years, malignancy or other underlying disease, hospital admission and/or antibiotic treatment in the past 3 months. Notably, about a third has had no recent antibiotic exposure nor has been admitted to a hospital. Based on diagnostic tests requested by the general practitioner, only half of CDI cases will be diagnosed. In this setting, it is advisable to request a diagnostic C. difficile test for patients with persisting or severe diarrhea and negative tests for traditional enteropathogens ( Salmonella, Shigella, Yersinia, Campylobacter ), also in the absence of traditional risk factors for CDI.