[srmorton]

C. difficle has been known for years to cause PMC (pseudomembranous colitis), a severe inflammation of the large intestine that is most frequently seen in patients who have received massive doses of powerful antibiotics. The antibiotics kill the normal flora organisms allowing C. difficle, which is usually present in very small numbers and is kept in check by the normal flora, to multiply. I am not aware of there being a recent increase in PMC, but I teach microbiology at a community college and am not on the "front lines" in a hospital setting. Since the organism was already resistant to the powerful antibiotics that I mentioned, it makes sense that it could develop resistance to other antibiotics as well.

[pterional]

It is amazing how the inappropriate use of broad spectrum antibiotics has created both problems. MRSA and C difficile.

[cosine]

There seems to be a new strain showing up more frequently, one that pumps out more toxin. It is a nasty bugger to get under control and the death rate is up. My understanding is that part of the problem is that normal handwashing, alcohol rubs, don't kill it. You just hope to wash it off.

[Atchafalaya]

We test for it "on request". I is not a big deal here in La. not even in the HIV pos population. Pneumocystis, TB (the previous two somewhat)and Cryptococcus ( oh yeah) are what we tend to see in our immune challenged patients.
Remember the media mantra
When in danger or in doubt,
run in circles,
scream and shout.