Jersey Shore University Medical Center is actively participating in a clinical study to evaluate the safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of an investigational vaccine for the prevention of primary symptomatic Clostridium difficult (C. diff). According to a press release, the study is currently in the Phase III Trial period.

As many in the jan/san industry are aware, C. diff is a potentially life-threatening, spore-forming bacterium that causes intestinal disease. It has proven to be very difficult to prevent and controlling its spread requires specific cleaning protocols.

According to Mark Martens, M.D., the medical center's chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology, while most types of health care-associated infections (HAIs) are declining, C. diff is emerging as a leading cause of life-threatening, HAIs worldwide.

In 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted fast-track designation to the investigational C. diff vaccine candidate being developed by Sanofi Pasteur. The fast-track program of the FDA is designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of new investigational drugs and vaccines that are intended to treat or prevent serious or life-threatening conditions and demonstrate the potential to address unmet medical needs.

To learn about proper cleaning techniques to prevent the spread of C. diff, click here.