Deadly Hospital Infection May Have Surprising Origin

"We need to figure out ways to prevent patients from developing an infection when we give them tube feedings, antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors—all things which predispose people to getting an actual infection with C. diff that causes damage to the intestines or worse," said Dr. Vincent Young. Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock

Deadly Clostridioides difficile infections may not result from transmission but from within the infected patient themselves, a new study shows.

Hospital staff spend a significant amount of time working to protect patients from acquiring infections while they are being cared for in the hospital. They employ various methods, from hand hygiene to isolation rooms to rigorous environmental sanitation.