The infection caused by Clostridioides difficile represents one of the bacterial infections with the greatest increase in incidence among nosocomial infections in recent years. C. difficile is a Gram-positive bacterium able to produce toxins and spores. In some cases, infection results in severe diarrhoea and fulminant colitis, which cause prolonged hospitalisation and can be fatal, with repercussions also in terms of health economics. C. difficile is the most common cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in the healthcare setting. The problem of bacterial forms that are increasingly resistant to common antibiotic treatments is also reflected in C. difficile infection (CDI). One of the causes of CDI is intestinal dysmicrobialism induced by prolonged antibiotic therapy. Moreover, in recent years, the emergence of increasingly virulent strains resistant to antibiotic treatment has made the picture even more complex. Evidence on preventive treatments to avoid recurrence is unclear. Current guidelines indicate the following antibiotics for the treatment of CDI: metronidazole, vancomycin, and fidaxomycin. This short narrative review provides an overview of CDI, antibiotic resistance, and emerging treatments.

Man-made vitreous fibers (MMVFs) are widely used in shipbuilding. Some MMVFs are “suspected of causing cancer” in Annex VI of Regulation (EC) 1272/2008 and can be easily found in ships (asbestos free or not ones). This study is an overview of the conditions/confinement of MMVFs onboard ships, focusing on the measures taken to reduce the risk of exposure and on the perception of risks, in analyzed ships. We suggest to improve on-board MMVFs safety plans (as for asbestos risk-management) and to strengthen National and European Authorities’ supervision/network on this theme also by the EU SHIPSAN ACT Joint Action’s tools.