🏥 USMLE Exam Prep

A 58-year-old female develops watery diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and fever 5 days after completing a course of clindamycin for cellulitis. Stool testing confirms Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) of moderate severity. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial treatment?

A Intravenous vancomycin.
B Oral metronidazole.
C Oral vancomycin.
D Oral fidaxomicin.

✓ Correct Answer: Option C

For an initial episode of non-fulminant C. difficile infection, oral vancomycin (or oral fidaxomicin) is the recommended first-line treatment. Oral metronidazole is less effective and no longer preferred for moderate disease.

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