Ammara Mushtaq, MD: Understanding C Difficile Infections

As clostridium difficile infections (CDI) spread both in hospitals and communities, it is important to understand the pathogenesis of the virus and who might be at the highest risk for contracting the disease.

While there are some known risk factors, including age and antibiotic use, there is still a lot that needs to be discovered about the disease.

In an interview with HCPLive®, Ammara Mushtaq, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases & Global Medicine, Department of Medicine in the College of Medicine, University of Florida, explained what the gaps in C difficile knowledge currently are and where research should focus in the coming years.

Mushtaq said while it is common to see C difficile infections prevalent throughout hospitals, in recent years there has been an increase in community spread as well. She also said the biggest risk factor, by far, is antibiotic use, which drives treatment decisions among doctors.

On October 21, Mushtaq participated in HCPLive’s State of the Science event chaired by Teena Chopra, MD, Wayne State University called Institutional Perspectives in Infectious Diseases: Management of C. Difficile.

Mushtaq’s presentation was about understanding C difficile infections, in which she explained identifying, diagnosing, and treating C difficile infections.