TABLE 5.

Research priorities for improving outcomes in children with C. difficile infection

Diagnosis	Development of diagnostic biomarkers to improve the performance of currently available testing strategies in order to more accurately differentiate infection from colonization
Therapy	Development of C. difficile targeted therapies that: can be delivered locally to the gut and with limited systemic effects have narrow spectrum activity to limit intestinal dysbiosis maintain long lasting effect to decrease recurrence and are also effective for treatment of severe disease
Prevention	Development of safe and effective C. difficile vaccines or other preventative measures that promote resistance to C. difficile colonization