Join the fight against CDI Those who discover vaccines to prevent serious illnesses are the champions of modern medicine. However, the thousands of men and women who volunteer to participate in research also help to make these discoveries possible. Find out if you qualify Speak with your physician or contact the research site nearest you for more information.

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI): What you need to know, how you can volunteer to help Can you help us investigate a vaccine that may prevent new and recurring CDI? Click here to find out what you need to know. If you or someone you know has been recently diagnosed with CDI, you may qualify to participate in our research and help in the fight to prevent this increasing health threat. Volunteers must meet other criteria to enroll. Speak to your physician or find a research site for the location nearest you. Answers to your questions about CDI What is CDI? Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is an illness resulting from a bacterium that causes debilitating diarrhea and potentially life-threatening complications. A more virulent strain, which produces 20 times as much toxin, was discovered in 2002. What are the symptoms? Symptoms can range from none to severe diarrhea and inflammation of the bowel. Other symptoms can include fever, loss of appetite, nausea and abdominal pain or tenderness. How does Clostridium difficile cause diarrhea? The bacterium that causes CDI is resistant to many antibiotics. Therefore, when people take antibiotics to kill off other infections, it can multiply as the bowel's natural bacteria are destroyed. The bacterium produces a toxin, which causes the diarrhea. How can CDI be treated? CDI can be treated with a select group of special antibiotics. In about 20% of cases, patients suffer a recurrence. Is CDI a serious health threat? While there are no firm numbers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates there are several hundred thousand cases each year of CDI in the United States, and several thousand will result in death. A study released in November 2008 by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology found that 13 out of every 1,000 U.S. hospital patients were either infected with C. diff. or it was present in the colon.