Pathogens
Clostridium difficile

Clostridium difficile

Precautions

Contact Plus Precautions

Susceptibilities

General Information

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

Clostridium difficile-associated 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, and 15% are asymptomatically colonized.

Profuse, watery diarrhea.

Pseudomembranous colitis or toxic megacolon.

Normal colonizer in infants.

Consider fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) in recurrent or refractory disease.