Latest C. difficile Data and Reports

New cases of C. difficile infection (CDI) became notifiable in Ireland in May 2008 under the category "acute infectious gastroenteritis". However, this potentially underestimated the true burden of CDI as recurrent cases were not captured. Recurrent CDI can account for up to 20% of all cases - patients with recurrent CDI also need to be isolated with contact precautions and managed appropriately, therefore knowledge of the full burden of CDI is essential. With this in mind, a second voluntary enhanced CDI surveillance scheme commenced in August 2009. Both new and recurrent cases of CDI became notifiable in Ireland in January 2012 as "C. difficile infection".