Guidance

Clostridioides difficile infection: how to deal with the problem

Interim update to the guidance on the most effective methods of prevention and control of Clostridioides difficile infection. This guidance is currently under review.

• From: UK Health Security Agency and Department of Health and Social Care
• Published: 1 December 2008
• Last updated: 27 April 2026 — See all updates

Documents

Clostridium difficile infection: how to deal with the problem: interim update 2026

PDF, 468 KB, 47 pages

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Appendix 1: stool scales

PDF, 181 KB, 2 pages

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Appendix 2: example stool record chart

MS Word Document, 35.7 KB

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Appendix 3: medicines that can cause diarrhoea

PDF, 111 KB, 1 page

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Appendix 4. Example of a proforma letter to GPs

MS Word Document, 35.3 KB

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Appendix 5. Examples of death certification for CDI patients

PDF, 103 KB, 2 pages

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Details

This interim guidance supersedes the 2008 Health Protection Agency (HPA) and Department of Health ‘Clostridium difficile infection: How to deal with the problem’ guidance. The 2008 guidance outlined the evidence and approaches to delivering good infection control and environmental hygiene, as well as C. difficile in the community and death certification.

This document has been produced to remove any outdated information from the 2008 guidance and provide links to newer guidance on the prevention and management of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). 

A review of CDI management and prevention is in progress and new guidance will be published in 2027.

Previous versions of this guidance can be found on the National Archives.

Published 1 December 2008

Last updated 27 April 2026 + show all updates

1. 27 April 2026

   Added interim guidance version and made the appendices into standalone downloadable documents.

2. 24 October 2024

   Noted the chapters that have been withdrawn and superseded. Updated the PDF accordingly.

3. 6 September 2019

   Replaced name Clostridium difficile with Clostridioides difficile to reflect changes in microbial taxonomy.

4. 1 December 2008

   First published.