Clostridioides difficile was recently designated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) selected as one of five urgent threats to public health.

Toxigenic Clostridioides difficile asymptomatic carriage is common among hospitalized patients and carries a risk for progression to C. difficile infection (CDI) along with spread to other patients.

Screening for asymptomatic carriage may reduce CDI rates by contact isolation of carriers and limiting antibiotic use among them.

Further studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of this preventive strategy.