Clostridium difficile, a persistent bacteria that infects patients typically after they have received antibiotics in a hospital setting, has met its match in a newly-approved drug, according to the New York Times.

Dificid, a pharmaceutical 40 years in the making, entered the market on Friday when the FDA approved it for widespread use.

C. difficile, which literally means “difficult,” has long been a thorn in the side of hospitals. Cases have increased sharply in the past two decades, leading to numerous cases of diarrhea and other colon-related complications. Cases in which the bacteria becomes a problem usually occur when a patient is treated with antibiotic that decimates harmless bacteria inside the colon, allowing C. difficile to take over.

While most of the cases that have been reported are in elderly patients in nursing homes or hospitals, some infections have occurred in adults and children outside of such settings. 1 in 5 patients must have their colons removed and 1 in about 20 die from the disease.

While two other drugs are currently being used by physicians to treat the disease, clinical testing found that Dificid, or fidaxomicin,, performed better in keeping patients free of the infection 25 days later.

Developed by Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Dificid is likely to carry a hefty price tag, writes the Times. However, price scheduling has yet to be officially announced.

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