Guideline

South African Society of Clinical Microbiology Clostridioides difficile infection diagnosis, management and infection prevention and control guideline

Trusha Nana, Chanelle Moore, Tom Boyles, Adrian J. Brink, Joy Cleghorn, Lesley M. Devenish, Briette du Toit, Ernst S. Fredericks, Molebogeng R. Lekalakala-Mokaba, Caroline Maluleka, Muhammad N. Rajabally, Gary Reubenson, Liliwe Shuping, Karin Swart, Khine Swe Swe Han, Jeannette Wadula, Justyna Wojno, Warren Lowman
Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases | Vol 35, No 1 | a219 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajid.v35i1.219 | © 2020 Trusha Nana, Chanelle Moore, Tom Boyles, Adrian J. Brink, Joy Cleghorn, Lesley M. Devenish, Briette du Toit, Ernst S. Fredericks, Molebogeng R. Lekalakala-Mokaba, Caroline Maluleka, Muhammad N. Rajabally, Gary Reubenson, Liliwe Shuping, Karin Swart, Khine | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 12 May 2020 | Published: 28 October 2020

About the author(s)

Trusha Nana, Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; and Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital Microbiology Laboratory, National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg,, South Africa
Chanelle Moore, Ampath Laboratories, Johannesburg, South Africa
Tom Boyles, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; and Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
Adrian J. Brink, Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
Joy Cleghorn, Life Healthcare Group, Johannesburg, South Africa
Lesley M. Devenish, Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; and Infection Control Services Laboratory, National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg, South Africa
Briette du Toit, Mediclinic Southern Africa, Cape Town, South Africa
Ernst S. Fredericks, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Science, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Molebogeng R. Lekalakala-Mokaba, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa; and Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital Microbiology Laboratory, National Health Laboratory Services, Pretoria,, South Africa
Caroline Maluleka, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa; and Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital Microbiology Laboratory, National Health Laboratory Services, Pretoria,, South Africa
Muhammad N. Rajabally, Mediclinic Constantiaberg, Cape Town, South Africa
Gary Reubenson, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Liliwe Shuping, Centre for Healthcare-Associated Infections, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, a division of National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa
Karin Swart, Netcare Hospitals Limited, Johannesburg, South Africa
Khine Swe Swe Han, Medical Microbiology Department, Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital Academic Complex, National Health Laboratory Services, Durban, South Africa; and Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
Jeannette Wadula, Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; and Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital Microbiology Laboratory, National Health Laboratory Services, Johannesburg,, South Africa
Justyna Wojno, Lancet Laboratories, Cape Town, South Africa
Warren Lowman, Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Clinical Microbiology, PathCare/Vermaak Pathologists, Johannesburg, South Africa; and Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Prevention and Control, WITS Donald Gordon Medical Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa

Abstract

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a problem in both developed and developing countries and is a common hospital-acquired infection. This guideline provides evidence-based practical recommendations for South Africa and other developing countries. The scope of the guideline includes CDI diagnostic approaches; adult, paediatric and special populations treatment options; and surveillance and infection prevention and control recommendations.

Keywords

Clostridioides difficile; diagnosis; treatment; surveillance; infection control; infection prevention; outbreak.

Metrics

Total abstract views: 17260
Total article views: 22180

 

Crossref Citations

1. Fidaxomicin Use in the Pediatric Population with Clostridioides difficile
Meredith B Oliver, Byron P Vaughn
Clinical Pharmacology: Advances and Applications  vol: Volume 14  first page: 91  year: 2022  
doi: 10.2147/CPAA.S273318

2. Clostridioides difficile infection and testing rates in South Africa: A multicentre study, 2017–2020
Trusha Nana, Praksha Ramjathan, Khine Swe-Swe Han, Kessendri Reddy
Anaerobe  vol: 91  first page: 102937  year: 2025  
doi: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2024.102937

3. Phenotypic and genotypic antimicrobial resistance profiles of clinical Clostridioides difficile isolates collected from private and public health settings in South Africa
Hlambani Shirinda, Anthony M. Smith, Mohamed Said, Ben Prinsloo, Mishalan Moodley, Marleen M. Kock, Marthie M. Ehlers
European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases  vol: 44  issue: 10  first page: 2439  year: 2025  
doi: 10.1007/s10096-025-05205-6

4. Clostridioides difficile resistance to antibiotics, including post-COVID-19 data
Lyudmila Boyanova, Georgi Dimitrov, Raina Gergova, Petyo Hadzhiyski, Rumyana Markovska
Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology  vol: 16  issue: 10  first page: 925  year: 2023  
doi: 10.1080/17512433.2023.2252331

5. Proteomic antibacterial characterization of flavonoid xanthohumol and probiotic Clostridium butyricum on pathogenic Clostridioides difficile
Shenkun Wei, Guorong Li, Qiong Yang, Xinping Zhu, Junjie Liang, Mengyi Liu, Zijian Chen, Xia Liu, Jun-Yu Xu, Wei Chen
Chinese Medicine  vol: 21  issue: 1  year: 2026  
doi: 10.1186/s13020-026-01343-x

6. Risk Factors Associated with Suspected Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI) in Elderly Diarrhea Patients at Prof. Dr. I.G.N.G. Ngoerah Hospital
I Gusti Putu Suka Aryana, Ni Nyoman Sri Budayanti, Ni Luh Putu Harta Wedari
Indonesian Journal of Tropical and Infectious Disease  vol: 11  issue: 3  year: 2023  
doi: 10.20473/ijtid.v11i3.47664