Clostridiodes (Clostridium) difficile has long been recognized as a healthcare associated pathogen and is responsible for approximately half a million infections in the US per year. CDC instituted active population and laboratory based surveillance for C. difficile infections (CDI) following tremendous increases in the early 2000s through the Emerging Infections Program. While the burden of CDI appears to have plateaued, the epidemiology of CDI has taken some surprising turns and is challenging the way we view this diarrheal pathogen.

Dr. Holzbauer is currently a Commander in the U.S. Public Health Services and serves as a CDC Career Epidemiology Field Officer assigned to the Minnesota Department of Health. She is currently the PI for the Minnesota arm of the CDC’s Emerging Infections Program Clostridiodes (Clostridium) difficile surveillance and serves as the deputy state public health veterinarian.