Increased incidence of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea following decreased restriction of antibiotic use

Abstract

Removal of antimicrobial agents from formulary restriction status at our center was followed by an increase in the incidence of Clostridium difficile- associated diarrhea. The mean monthly incidence of C. difficile diarrhea for the 12-month period before institution of decreased restriction of antibiotic use was 3.4 infections per 1,000 admissions and rose to 6.2 infections per 1,000 admissions during the following 4-month period (P