Clostridium Difficile Recurrence Prevention Clinical Trials in Utah

We are conducting a clinical research study to investigate a new intravenous medication for the prevention of Clostridium Difficile (C. diff ) infections. Symptoms of a C. diff infection include abdominal pain and diarrhea. In spite of current treatments, C. diff intestinal infections have a high rate of recurrence.

What is Clostridium Difficile?

Clostridium difficile is a bacteria that infects the intestinal track and causes a number of unpleasant symptoms that include abdominal pain and cramping, diarrhea, fever, nausea, and can, on occasion, lead to life-threatening conditions such as colonic inflammation and kidney failure.

Common Causes of C. Diff Infections

C. difficile bacteria live in the soil, air, and water, human and animal feces, and some food products such as processed meat. A small percentage of healthy people carry the bacteria in their large intestine without showing symptoms of infection.
C. diff infections occur most frequently in hospitals and health care clinics because a much higher percentage of people in those types of locations are C. diff carriers. C. diff infections often arise following the use of antibiotics to treat a separate infection. This happens because the use of antibiotics destroys the balance of good and bad bacteria that live in your digestive tract. In the absence of naturally occurring, helpful bacteria, harmful strains like C. diff can quickly grow to out-of-control numbers and may linger in a room for weeks or months.
The problem with C. difficile is that the bacteria produces toxins that attack the intestinal lining in humans, destroying cells and generating groups of inflammatory cells called “plaques.” These toxins cause the symptoms of C. diff infection. This type of infection is spread through food and feces, and the bacteria is often left on surfaces and objects by people who do not wash their hands thoroughly. Anyone who touches that surface and then touches their face is at risk of swallowing the bacteria.

C. Diff.: The Evolution of a New Strain

The use of antibiotics to treat infections have contributed to the rapid evolution of treatment-resistant strains of many common types of bacteria that do not respond to traditional methods of treatment. One C. difficile strain is known to have adapted antibiotic resistance. Dangerously, this new strain of C. diff produces more toxins than other strains do. This hardier strain tends to be more resistant to the effects of antibiotics and other treatments, and it has been detected in people outside of high-risk populations, such as those who have not been to the hospital or taken antibiotics to treat a previous illness. This robust new strain of C. difficile is responsible for numerous outbreaks of illness in the 14 years since 2000.

Basic qualifications to join our C. diff clinical trials in Utah:

• Confirmed diagnosis of C. diff.
• Have started standard treatment for C. diff.
• Must be at least 18 years old.

If you qualify, you may receive:

• No-cost health care related to the study.
• No-cost investigational medication.
• Compensation for time and travel related to the study.
• Compensation up to $940 for completing all studies.
If you are interested in participating in our C. diff. clinical trials in Utah, please use the form below to sign up.