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The economics of Clostridium difficile-associated disease for providers and payers.

Outbreaks of Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD), especially the hypervirulent North American pulsed field gel electrophoresis type 1 strain, have presented significant problems for patients, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and clinicians [1-3]. The important study by Dubberke et al. [4] in this issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases calls attention to the financial burden facing hospitals and, indirectly, to payers. As noted by Dubberke et al. [4], their findings are conservative, as we will discuss further.