Ferring Praises Support From New Jersey and Minnesota as Both States Issue Proclamations Recognizing November as C. difficile Infection Awareness Month for Fourth Consecutive Year

Ferring Praises Support From New Jersey and Minnesota as Both States Issue Proclamations Recognizing November as C. difficile Infection Awareness Month for Fourth Consecutive Year

Parsippany, NJ – November 15, 2023 – Ferring Pharmaceuticals appreciates the ongoing support from New Jersey and Minnesota as both states recognize November as Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) Infection Awareness Month. This is the fourth year in a row that the offices of Governor Phil Murphy (New Jersey) and Governor Tim Walz (Minnesota) issued the proclamations that underscore the severity of C. diff infection and the need to address the impact it has on patients, their families and the healthcare system.

Additionally, this year in New Jersey’s capital, the sign on the historic Lower Trenton Bridge – “Trenton Makes The World Takes” – was lit in green on November 8, 9 and 10, to further recognize the need for continued awareness of this potentially devastating infection.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has declared C. diff infection an urgent public health threat.¹ C. diff infection is the most common healthcare-associated infection,¹ causing an estimated half a million illnesses and tens of thousands of deaths in the U.S each year.^1,2 While healthcare-associated cases are decreasing, community-associated cases are not.¹ Strategies to reduce C. diff infections include improving antibiotic use, infection control and healthcare facility cleaning and disinfection.¹

“We are grateful to the governors of New Jersey and Minnesota for continuing to recognize C. diff Infection Awareness Month and the challenges that people living with this illness, their loved ones supporting them and the healthcare providers treating them face every day,” said Lionel Fajolle, Vice President, Specialty Care, Ferring Pharmaceuticals U.S.

For more information about C. diff infection and to access resources for patients and caregivers, please visit our website.

About C. diff Infection

C. diff infection is a serious and potentially deadly infection that impacts people across the globe. The C. diff bacterium causes debilitating symptoms, such as severe diarrhea, fever, stomach tenderness or pain, loss of appetite, nausea and colitis (an inflammation of the colon).² C. diff infection can be the start of a vicious cycle of recurrence, causing a significant burden for patients and the healthcare system.^1,3 It has been estimated that up to 35% of C. diff infection cases recur after initial diagnosis and people who have had a recurrence are at significantly higher risk of further infections.^4,5,6,7After the first recurrence, it has been estimated that up to 65% of patients may develop a subsequent recurrence.^6,7 Antibiotics – the current standard of care for treatment of C. diff infection – treat the disease but can also be a contributing factor to the cycle of recurrence.²

About Ferring Pharmaceuticals

Ferring Pharmaceuticals is a research-driven, specialty biopharmaceutical group committed to helping people around the world build families and live better lives. In the United States, Ferring is a leader in reproductive medicine and maternal health, uro-oncology and in specialty areas within gastroenterology, including microbiome therapeutics, and orthopaedics. For more information, call 1-888-FERRING (1-888-337-7464) or visit http://www.ferringusa.com/.

Connect with us on our dedicated microbiome therapeutics development channels on Twitter and LinkedIn.

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For more information, please contact:

Lisa Ellen
Director, Brand Communications
E: lisa.ellen@ferring.com
P: +1-862-286-5696

References:

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2019 Antibiotic Resistance Threats Report: Clostridioides difficile. 23 Nov. 2021. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/pdf/threats-report/clostridioides-difficile-508.pdf.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What is C. diff? 7 Sep. 2022. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/cdiff/what-is.html.
3. Feuerstadt P, et al. Healthcare resource utilization and direct medical costs associated with index and recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection: a real-world data analysis. J Med Econ. 2020;23(6):603-609.
4. Riddle DJ, Dubberke ER. Clostridium difficile infection in the intensive care unit. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2009;23(3):727-743.
5. Nelson WW, et al. Health care resource utilization and costs of recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection in the elderly: a real-world claims analysis. J Manag Care Spec Pharm. 2021 Jul;27(7):828-838. doi: 10.18553/jmcp.2021.20395. Epub 2021 Mar 11.
6. Kelly, CP. Can we identify patients at high risk of recurrent Clostridium difficile infection? Clin Microbiol Infect. 2012;18(Suppl. 6):21–27.
7. Smits WK, et al. Clostridium difficile infection. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2016;2:16020. doi: 10.1038/nrdp.2016.20.