Researchers say that a cocktail of nontoxic spores can help prevent recurrence of a common but dangerous infection that often hits hospitals and is caused by Clostridium difficile.

C. difficile infections can cause abdominal cramps, diarrhea and sometimes severe inflammation of the colon. The infections are particularly contracted by people who have had a long antibiotic treatment or have a compromised immune system.

Researchers say that a prolonged use of antibiotics can become a plight as it often destroys good bacteria in the human gut that are important to battle with toxin-producing versions of C. difficile.

"The antibiotics don't completely get rid of the C. diff bacteria, and if the patient hasn't developed an immune response against the toxin the bacteria produces, they'll get sick again", said Dr. Dale Gerding, a professor of medicine at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.

Cases of C. difficile infections have seen a surge in US hospitals and claim 29,000 lives each year. Researchers also say that 30% of patients fall sick again after receiving treatments with antibiotics. Gerding and his research team found through a new study that a non-toxic "friendly" strain of C. difficile caused a one in 50 chance for recurrence of infection. Findings of the study have been reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The researchers revealed that a long course of antibiotics could be dangerous for people and it's a good remedy to provide in advance the friendly version of C. difficile to people who need to receive antibiotics for a longer time. It will help them reduce their chances of suffering from the toxic infection.

The study has yielded promising results to deal with the friendly version of C. difficile.