Research and analysis

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI): management in care homes

This study by Health Protection Agency (now PHE) finds out how well diarrhoea is managed and treated in nursing and residential (care) homes.

From:
Public Health England
Published
1 August 2010
Last updated
16 May 2024 — See all updates

This publication was withdrawn on

This report is out of date. For patient information, please see the NHS page Clostridium difficile (C. diff) infection. For clinicians, please see the UKHSA Clostridioides difficile: guidance, data and analysis page and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Clostridioides difficile infection: antimicrobial prescribing page for further information on management.

Documents

A report on the management of diarrhoea in care homes: August 2010

PDF, 705 KB, 18 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email publications@phe.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

Clostridioides difficile is a healthcare-associated infection of the intestine and is the main cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and colitis. It is a major public health problem and mainly affects elderly patients and those with underlying illnesses.

Although rates of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in England have decreased recently, the number of cases remains high. Efforts to reduce C. difficile infection rates have been initiated in care homes, led by national guidance. This reflects the concentration of vulnerable people in such settings, where use of antibiotics and gastric acid suppressants is common.

This study aimed to find out how well diarrhoea is managed and treated in nursing and residential homes (care homes), to identify areas where knowledge and practice could be improved.

Published 1 August 2010
Last updated 16 May 2024 + show all updates

  1. Page withdrawn.

  2. Replaced name Clostridium difficile with Clostridioides difficile to reflect changes in microbial taxonomy.

  3. First published.

Related content