Which antibiotic is typically avoided in treating C. difficile infections?

In treating Clostridioides difficile infections, amoxicillin is typically avoided due to its ineffectiveness against the bacteria. C. difficile often produces toxins and is resistant to various antibiotics, including amoxicillin, which is a broad-spectrum penicillin. This antibiotic is more effective against a range of other bacterial infections but is not the preferred or most effective choice for addressing infections caused by C. difficile.

The preferred treatments for C. difficile infection include metronidazole, fidaxomicin, and vancomycin, all of which have proven efficacy against this specific pathogen. Metronidazole was once a first-line treatment but is now typically used for milder cases or in specific scenarios. Fidaxomicin and vancomycin are more effective for moderate to severe cases. Therefore, in the context of treating C. difficile, amoxicillin's lack of effectiveness underscores why it is avoided.