CDI instills fear in every clinician. This intractable infection, often following a course of antibiotics, is considered an urgent public health threat with limited preventative options. That’s why I was excited to read about researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, who developed a messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine targeting Clostridioides difficile. The results of their preclinical study suggest this technology is a promising platform for CDI prevention and mRNA vaccine development A multivalent mRNA-LNP vaccine protects against Clostridioides difficile infection | Science. Vaccinated mice not only survived a toxin dose five times higher than the 100% lethal dose but also demonstrated the vaccine’s protective effect through serum transfer.

A little background: C. difficile is the leading cause of infectious diarrhea in healthcare settings. An increase in infections over the past few years is attributed to the emergence of highly virulent and antibiotic-resistant strains. A 2019 study reported the global incidence of C. difficile infections at 2.2 per 1,000 hospital admissions per year and 3.5 per 10,000 patient-days per year Global burden of Clostridium difficile infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis – PubMed.

While FDA approval of this vaccine may still be years away, the future looks brighter! This is another reason to focus on preventing rehospitalizations, as hospital stays can introduce this intractable infection. Take a close look at your current rehospitalization rates and individual residents—are any showing symptoms of possible CDI? Get your infection preventionist involved, bring data to the QAPI committee, and discuss findings with your medical director.

Remember, CDI is highly contagious, and approximately 5% of the population carry it without showing signs or symptoms. Reinforce the importance of appropriate infection control measures, don’t cut corners, and ensure your staff follow the same standards.

Stay well and stay informed!