Four fast facts:
1. C. diff caused an estimated 223,900 infections among hospitalized patients and 12,800 deaths in 2017, representing the most recent estimate available, according to the CDC.
2. While rates of four other healthcare-associated infections rose in 2020, C. diff rates remained stable throughout 2020. CDC researchers said an increased focus on hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, patient isolation and use of personal protective equipment during the pandemic may explain this trend.
3. In June, the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America released new clinical guidelines for managing C. diff infections.
4. Of 43 antibiotics currently in development worldwide, five address C. diff, according to the World Health Organization.
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