Clostridium Difficile Clinical Trials in Columbus

Clostridium difficile (C. diff) is a bacterium that can cause gastrointestinal symptoms ranging from diarrhea to life-threatening inflammation of the colon. Illness caused by C. diff is most common in older individuals being treated in hospitals or long-term care facilities.

Cases of infection caused by C. diff often follow long-term antibiotic treatment, and have been on the rise recently, both in frequency and resistance to treatment. In fact, the CDC has linked C. diff to 14,000 American deaths each year.

Clinical trials related to C. diff usually focus on identifying medications that reduce the risk of infection in patients undergoing prolonged antibiotic treatment. If you are over 40 years old and have an upcoming hospitalization or are entering a long-term care facility, you could qualify for a C. diff clinical trial.

Aventiv Research is currently enrolling in a study researching a vaccine that could prevent infection from C. diff exposure. If you live in the Columbus area and meet the eligibility requirements, you could be helpful with that research.

The new study is patients over 50 that have had at least 2 hospital stays, each lasting at least ≥ 24 hours, in the 12 months before enrollment and has received systemic (not topical) antibiotics in the 12 months before enrollment or Is anticipated to have an in-patient hospitalization for a planned surgical procedure within 60 days of enrollment and the impending hospital stay is planned to be ≥ 72 hours.