Moxifloxacin Therapy as a Risk Factor forClostridium difficile–Associated Disease During an Outbreak: Attempts to Control a New Epidemic Strain

Abstract

An outbreak ofClostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD) caused by the epidemic North American pulsed-field gel electrophoresis type 1 (NAP1) strain began after a formulary change from levofloxacin to moxifloxacin. Cases of CDAD were associated with moxifloxacin use, but a formulary change back to levofloxacin failed to reduce rates of disease. Substituting use of one fluoroquinolone with use of another without also controlling the overall use of drugs from this class is unlikely to control outbreaks caused by the NAP1 strain ofC. difficile.