Tag: Cdi

Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infection (CDI) is the most common cause of healthcare-associated infections in the United States. This raises the question for clinicians: in the context of severe infections, does meropenem cover C diff?

According to the CDC, *Clostridioides difficile* infection (CDI) is a leading cause of healthcare-associated infections and gastroenteritis in the U.S. Among the treatments, oral vancomycin is a cornerstone therapy, working specifically to combat the bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract and resolve symptoms.

For intestinal infections like *Clostridioides difficile* (C. diff), oral vancomycin is typically prescribed for 7 to 10 days, while the duration of intravenous vancomycin therapy for severe systemic infections can last weeks or even months. The exact length of treatment is highly dependent on the specific infection being treated and the patient's individual health factors.

According to major infectious disease guidelines, linezolid is not a recommended treatment for *Clostridioides difficile* (CDI), the leading cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. While this powerful antibiotic targets many drug-resistant bacteria like MRSA, its mechanism of action and poor gastrointestinal absorption make it ineffective for directly treating *C. diff* infection.

Nearly 35% of people taking antibiotics experience diarrhea, a side effect caused by gut microbiome disruption. Understanding the interaction is critical, especially when considering, **'Should you take a probiotic when taking vancomycin?'**.