Guess which organism killed 14,000 people last year- quadrupling in number in the last 10 years, and costing $1B extra in health care.  Almost all the cases happen among people who recently received medical care.  Ironically, antibiotics are making the problem worse, because when a person takes antibiotics, good germs that protect against infection are destroyed for several months. 

The culprit is a bacteria called Clostridium difficile, and it’s the subject of this month’s CDC Vital Signs website.  The site has a host of easy to understand prevention info.  Check it out.