Modern Approaches to the Diagnosis and treatment of <i>Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile)</i>-associated Disease in Adults (literature Review and Expert Council Resolution)

Abstract

Aim: to review the modern approaches to the diagnosis and treatment ofC. difficile-associated disease in adults and present the resolution of the Expert Council held on March 25, 2023 in Moscow.General provisions.C. difficileis the most important nosocomial pathogen which spores are also commonly found in the environment. Microbiota impairment, primarily due to the use of antibacterial drugs, is a key stage in the development ofC. difficile-associated disease. A search for an infection should be carried out only in patients with diarrhea, and it is advisable to use at least 2 laboratory methods. The drug of choice for first-line treatment is vancomycin. If drug treatment is ineffective or the patient has recurrent clostridial infection, fecal microbiota transplantation should be considered. The probiotic strainSaccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745has a direct inhibitory effect onC. difficiletoxin A, promotes normalization of the intestinal microbiota composition, and decreases the inflammatory reaction in colonic mucosa colonized with a toxigenic strain ofC. difficile.Conclusions. Addition of the probiotic strainSaccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745to antibacterial therapy promotes both primary and secondary prevention ofC. difficile-associated disease.