I read with interest this recent publication on the use of oral vancomycin for the prevention of healthcare facility onset Clostridium difficile infection during systemic antibiotic exposure.Indeed, patients with a prior history of Clostridium difficile who require systemic antibiotic treatment for other infections are at high risk for recurrence. The use of oral vancomycin prophylaxis is effective in reducing the risk of recurrent Clostridium difficile, however, this should be chosen wisely, preferably under formal infectious diseases consultation.
As always, the focus should be on minimizing the overuse of antimicrobials. We argue for limiting antibiotic overuse as the principal strategy for preventing Clostridium difficile infection, published here in BMJ Quality and Safety.
I am in the hospital this weekend, attending the Infectious diseases consults, living the dream.
