Clostridium difficile-associated
diarrhea (CDAD) is the most common cause of healthcare-associated
diarrhea. The current recommended treatment regimens of
metronidazole and
vancomycin have not changed in nearly 25 years.
Fidaxomicin, an exceedingly narrow spectrum
macrolide antibiotic, was recently approved for the treatment of CDAD. In phase III clinical trials,
fidaxomicin was noninferior to
vancomycin in achieving clinical cure of CDAD. Furthermore,
fidaxomicin was associated with fewer recurrences of CDAD compared with
vancomycin in clinical trials. These results, combined with the ease of administration and a good safety profile, make
fidaxomicin an attractive treatment option for treating CDAD.