Could common painkillers promote C. difficile infection?

C. difficile infections have long been linked to the use of antibiotics, however, new research has also implicated common painkillers, identifying a link between severe C. difficile infections and the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

The study, published in mBio, has provided new evidence for the connection between NSAIDs and C. difficile, in addition to an explanation of the underlying mechanism – findings that could inform the development of future treatments.