Current management of Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile infection in adults: a summary of recommendations from the 2017 IDSA/SHEA clinical practice guideline

Clostridioides (formerly Clostridium) difficile infection (CDI) is the most common cause of health care–associated infectious diarrhea in the developed world. The Infectious Diseases Society of America and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America clinical guidelines on CDI were updated in 2017. The update reflects a decline in the incidence of CDI caused by ribotype 027 and an increased incidence of community‑associated CDI, current challenges in CDI diagnosis, the importance of antibiotic stewardship and contact and isolation precautions in infection prevention and control, and many significant changes in CDI management. This review summarizes and examines these new guidelines, how they compare to other recommendations, and more recent data on CDI management.