Clostridum difficile diarrhea:: infection control in horses

Clostridium difficile is a recognized cause of diarrheic disease in adult horses and may be an important pathogen in veterinary hospitals. Community-associated and nosocomial disease can be encountered, although outbreaks are uncommon. Although the pathogenesis of C difficile-associated disease is not well understood, certain risk factors, particularly antimicrobial therapy, are known to predispose to the development of the disease. Infection control measures to decrease exposure to C difficile and to limit susceptibility of hospitalized horses may play an important role in the control of C difficile-associated disease.