Unlocked mystery will help target C. diff in hospitals

Clostridium difficile, one of the most insidious bacterial infections found in hospitals, may be easier to spot after a study by Chicago and Australian researchers discovered that the true cause of its potentially deadly effects has been misunderstood for decades. Clostridium difficile is a growing concern in the medical community as infection rates rise and more virulent strains emerge that are resistant to treatment. The bacterium infects or colonizes as many as 13 out of every 1,000 hospital patients, according to a study released last year.