Rising foe defies hospitals’ war on superbugs

Clostridium difficile is fast emerging as one of the most dangerous and virulent foes in hospitals' war against antibiotic "superbugs." C. diff is spawning infections in hospitals in the U.S. and abroad that can lead to severe diarrhea, ruptured colons, perforated bowels, kidney failure, blood poisoning, and death. Despite hospitals gaining control of other drug-resistant infections such as MRSA, rates of C. diff are rising sharply, and a recent, more virulent strain of the bug is causing more severe complications.