SummaryBackgroundClostridioides difficile is the most common cause of healthcare‐associated infection, and severe cases can result in significant complications. While anti‐microbial therapy is central to infection management, adjunctive therapies may be utilised as preventative strategies.AimThis article aims to review updates in the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management, including treatment and prevention, of C. difficile infections.MethodsA narrative review was performed to evaluate the current literature between 1986 and 2023.ResultsThe incidence of C. difficile infection remains significantly high in both hospital and community settings, though with an overall decline in recent years and similar surveillance estimates globally. Vancomycin and fidaxomicin remain the first line antibiotics for treatment of non‐severe C. difficile infection, though due to lower recurrence rates, infectious disease society guidelines now favour use of fidaxomicin. Faecal microbiota transplantation should still be considered to prevent recurrent C. difficile infection. However, in the past year the field has had a significant advancement with the approval of the first two live biotherapeutic products—faecal microbiota spores‐live brpk, an oral capsule preparation, and faecal microbiota live‐jslm—both indicated for the prevention of recurrent C. difficile infection, with additional therapies on the horizon.ConclusionAlthough the prevalence of C. difficile infection remains high, there have been significant advances in the development of novel therapeutics and preventative measures following changes in recent practice guidelines, and will continue to evolve in the future.

中文翻译：

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艰难梭菌感染的流行病学和治疗——临床更新

摘要背景艰难梭菌是医疗保健相关感染的最常见原因，严重的病例可能会导致严重的并发症。虽然抗微生物治疗是感染管理的核心，但辅助治疗可用作预防策略。 目的本文旨在回顾流行病学、诊断和管理（包括治疗和预防）的最新进展艰难梭菌方法对 1986 年至 2023 年期间的现有文献进行叙述性回顾。结果艰难梭菌医院和社区环境中的感染率仍然很高，尽管近年来总体下降，而且全球监测估计也有类似情况。万古霉素和非达霉素仍然是治疗非重症的一线抗生素艰难梭菌感染，尽管由于复发率较低，传染病协会指南现在倾向于使用非达霉素。仍应考虑粪便微生物移植以预防复发艰难梭菌感染。然而，在过去的一年里，随着前两种活生物治疗产品的批准，该领域取得了重大进展——粪便微生物孢子活brpk（一种口服胶囊制剂）和粪便微生物活jslm——两者均适用于预防复发性腹泻艰难梭菌感染，即将出现额外的治疗方法。结论虽然流行艰难梭菌感染率仍然很高，随着最近实践指南的变化，新型治疗方法和预防措施的开发取得了重大进展，并将在未来继续发展。