New Hope for Patients Infected with C. diff While in a Hospital or Nursing Home: FDA Approves New Medication to Help Treat C. difficile-associated Diarrhea

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved fidaxomicin (Dificid) to treat diarrhea associated with Clostridium difficile (C. diff) infections. This is the first new drug approved for the treatment of C. diff in 30 years. Until now, Vancomycin was the only medication FDA approved to treat C. difficile. Oral metronidazole or Flagyl was the other medication used, off label, to try and stop the profuse diarrhea that occurs after one is infected with the C. diff bacteria. Studies showed that patients administered fidaxomicin responded better to treatment than patients who received Vancomycin.

Clostridium difficile or C. diff is a very serious infection and can lead to colitis, a severe infection in the intestines, toxic megacolon, which is a life-threatening complication that causes rapid widening (dilation) of the large intestine that can lead to dehydration, an overwhelming infection or sepsis, shock, or even death. It is estimated that approximately 13% of patients who are admitted to a hospital or nursing home for a period of 2 weeks become infected with C. diff while as many as 50% of the patients with hospital stays longer than 4 weeks become infected.

Here at the Beasley hospital negligence law firm, we all are too familiar with the catastrophic injuries and deaths that occur when one is infected with the C. diff infection. Our specialized medical and legal teams have reviewed thousands of C. diff cases with documented results. Our record of success is due to our experienced and aggressive attorneys in addition to our specialized medical teams made up of physicians and registered nurses who have spent thousands of hours in hospitals or nursing homes caring for patients. Our medical and legal knowledge is what gave us the edge to obtain two of the largest medical negligence verdicts, $100 million and $55 million, in Pennsylvania history. To date, our clients have had billions awarded on their behalf.

If you or a loved one has been a victim of a hospital error or wrongful death, please contact one of our experienced Philadelphia medical malpractice attorneys. Please feel free to look at our track record of success and call us for free, confidential, no obligation consultation. We promise that we will never take a fee unless we win your case.