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Physician members of Sermo, the fastest growing online community created by physicians for physicians, are not surprised by a study presented on increasing problems with Clostridium difficile infections (C. difficile). Researchers from the CDC reported Thursday that C. difficile infections are becoming more common outside of hospitals – where these infections have historically taken place. Separately, they reported that a more virulent strain of the bug is spreading in hospitals. On Sermo, physicians have been discussing these issues for months, and are working together to determine what they can do to combat this growing threat.
"The research efforts of the CDC and others are hugely important…but at the same time, this is a moving target. The presentation of the disease is changing along with the affected populations. Our physician members are discussing these trends in real time." said Dr. Daniel Palestrant, CEO and Founder of Sermo. "Although controlled research studies will ultimately be necessary to define best practice recommendations, the design and execution of these controlled trials can be informed by the collective insights of the physicians in the Sermo community. On Sermo, physicians talk to each other and get guidance from their peers, just as they always have in formal and informal meetings in hospitals. Indeed, as healthcare in this country has become increasingly outpatient-based, physicians are increasingly disconnected from an effective network of peers. Sermo is working to change this."
