“Dangerous and often deadly cases of healthcare-associated clostridium difficile bacteria infections were almost double estimates in 2011, a new report has found, adding new urgency for health systems to change practices to avoid an epidemic or steep financial penalties.

Clostridium difficile, or C. diff caused 453,000 infections in 2011 and was associated with 29,000 deaths, up from an estimated 14,000, according to a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study in the New England Journal of Medicine…

The CDC in a conference call highlighted the case of Peggy Lillis, who died at the age of 56 in April 2010, 36-hours after contracting C. difficile most likely in a dentists office. Her son Christian now spearheads the Peggy Lillis Foundation, promoting “robust antibiotic stewardship and sanitation and hygiene programs at every healthcare facility” and mandatory public reporting in every state.”

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