Recurrences of C. difficile infection are generally treated with
a repeat course of either metronidazole, vancomycin, or with novel
agents, including rifaximin, nitazoxanide or fidaxomicin [12].Inmany
cases this therapy is successful. However, some patients develop
a chronic, relapsing pattern of C. difficile infection. In such patients,
alternative therapies are needed. Unfortunately, none of the alternative
therapies that have been recommended to date have proven to
be highly successful. Furthermore, these treatments are expensive,
and because many of these treatment agents are novel and untested
on large series of patients, they are frequently considered experimental
and the cost is frequently passed on to the patient. In addition,
the use of antibiotics to treat a condition which was originally caused
by the use of antibiotics seems counterintuitive.