When other bacteria in the gut are killed off by these antibiotics, the more deadly — and resistant — C. difficile has more room for rapid growth, they found. To find out, Crook and colleagues analysed data on the number of C. difficile infections, and the quantity of antibiotics used, both in hospitals and by general practitioners. They concluded that the C. difficile epidemic was the unintended consequence of intensive use of the fluoroquinolones. When this class of antibiotic was reduced, only the C. difficile bugs resistant to fluoroquinolones went away. The findings are relevant to the United States, where prescription of this family of antibiotics "remains unrestricted," Crook said.

Source: Daily Nation January 25, 2017 04:45 UTC