Pathogens
Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile

Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile

Precautions

Contact Precautions

Susceptibilities

General Information

Anaerobic spore forming gram positive bacilli, box-car shaped.

  • Nosocomial more common than community onset diarrhea usually after taking antibiotics.

  • Can occur in outbreaks.

  • Recurrence is very common therefore previous history of C. difficile is a risk factor.

  • Antacids, especially proton-pump inhibitors, and chemotherapy also increase risk.

Wide range of symptoms possible.

  • Profuse, watery diarrhea
  • Pseudomembranous colitis or toxic megacolon

Probiotics may be helpful.

In refractory cases, stool transplants have been effective.

Classification from Clostridium to Clostridioides changed in 2016.