Hospitals are struggling with Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infections, especially in ICUs. A recent study suggests that asymptomatic carriers may be a hidden reservoir, shedding bacteria without symptoms and putting others at risk. Researchers at the University of Michigan Medical School and Rush University Medical Center conducted a study in a single ICU, finding a mix of 40 C. diff strains, some associated with antibiotic resistance. The study revealed that C. diff spread is more likely from patients bringing it into the ICU rather than between patients already there. Future efforts may focus on preventing infections in carriers rather than transmission.
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Rethinking the Source of C. Diff Hospital Infections
