# Curbing inappropriate C. difficile treatment in patients receiving concomitant laxatives

## TL;DR

A system alert reduced unnecessary C. difficile treatment in patients using laxatives, saving costs and avoiding unnecessary drugs.

## Contribution

Implementation of an alert system to curb inappropriate C. difficile treatment in laxative users.

## Key findings

- 37% of patients avoided C. difficile treatment due to the alert.
- The intervention saved $143,905 in drug costs over 10 months.

## Abstract

In the setting of universal Clostridioides difficile screening, we implemented an alert that triggered when C. difficile treatment was ordered in patients who recently received laxatives. This resulted in C. difficile treatment avoidance in 37% of patients and was associated with drug cost savings of $143,905 over a 10-month period.