[Oncologic aspects of Clostridium difficile].

Clostridium difficile infection is one of the most frequent among cancer patients. Its diagnosis is complicated by the fact that the symptoms of the infection and the side effects of the anticancer treatments could be similar. Chemotherapy itself might facilitate Clostridium difficile infection. Several risk factors are known but Clostridium difficile infection can develop in the absence of these. Neutreopenia is a risk factor for fatal Clostridium difficile infection and also the side effect of chemotherapy. Therefore, if symptoms of the potential infection develop (eg. diarrhoea more than three times a day, fever above 38.5 °C, colitis, rapid increase of serum creatinin) Clostridium difficile infection should be excluded. If the infection is confirmed it should be managed in the most efficient way. Orv. Hetil., 2016, 157(28), 1110-1116.