Hospital Insight Series: Clostridium Difficile Infections

FEBRUARY 2011

Report Authors
James Andersen
Danielle L. Drayton, Ph.D.

Introduction:

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a relatively common nosocomial infection that has garnered increased awareness among physicians and drug developers alike. Because of its growing incidence, impact on the healthcare system due to increased morbidity, costly hospitalizations, troubling rates of severe disease and recurrent infections, and outbreaks caused by a new hypervirulent strain of C. difficile, BI/NAP1/027, CDI is an important hospital-acquired infection. With limited therapeutic options available and increasing reports of treatment failures, interviewed thought leaders and physicians alike highlight the need for new, more-effective CDI therapies that will not only treat the disease but will also prevent recurrences. In this report, we investigate current treatment practices and risk factors for CDI and analyze emerging therapies in the pipeline. In addition, we provide insight into the current and future challenges associated with treating CDI, which we gained from our survey of internal medicine physicians. Finally, we include a patient-share forecast for current and late-stage CDI emerging therapies based on insights from interviewed thought leaders and surveyed internists and our understanding of the future competitive landscape in the CDI market.