New Interactive Website Features Data From Clostridium Difficile-Associated Disease (CDAD) Surveillance Project

Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD) has re-emerged as a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States and abroad. To gain a better understanding of the changing epidemiology and clinical impact of CDAD, healthcare professionals in the United States and abroad have been voluntarily providing data to the Clostridium difficile-Associated Disease Surveillance Project (CDSP), a web-based international project. Data collected from this surveillance project enable healthcare professionals to customize the data based on geographic location, institution type, and bed size. These CDSP data are being made available today at http://www.rmei.com/vrp080.

Several important characteristics regarding the epidemiology and outcomes of CDAD have been identified from the CDSP. U.S.-based clinicians have noted that they are experiencing increases in CDAD patient caseload, patients with severe CDAD or treatment relapses, and more frequent colectomies or deaths attributable to CDAD. Importantly, the frequency of all of these outcomes is greater than that reported by clinicians in the 2004 Infectious Diseases Society of America/Emerging Infections Network (IDSA/EIN) surveys.

The CDSP was initiated to continue work conducted by the IDSA through its EIN in 2004. The objectives of gathering these data are to provide data that will enable clinicians to advance prevention and optimal management of patients with CDAD. Clinicians interested in providing data to the CDSP can do so at http://www.rmei.com/cdadproject.

The CDAD Surveillance Project interactive website is sponsored by Robert Michael Educational Institute LLC and supported by an educational grant from ViroPharma Incorporated.

Robert Michael Educational Institute LLC is a full-service medical education company dedicated to providing comprehensive medical education to healthcare providers, patients, and caregivers. Our mission is to design programs that improve diagnosis and treatment through a variety of educational programming such as national and international symposia, teleconferences, live meetings, enduring print materials, and interactive Internet programs. For more information about Robert Michael Educational Institute LLC, visit http://www.rmei.com.

Robert Michael Educational Institute LLC
http://www.rmei.com