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Pathogens
Clostridioides difficile

Clostridioides difficile

Precautions

Contact/Spore Precautions

Susceptibilities

General susceptibility
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General Information

  • Fidaxomicin

  • Metronidazole

  • Anaerobic spore forming gram positive bacilli, box-car shaped
  • Formerly Clostridium difficile

  • Nosocomial onset more common than community onset, usually after taking antibiotics

  • Can occur in outbreaks

  • Risk factors include advanced age, hospitalization, recent antibiotic use, cancer chemotherapy, gastrointestinal surgery, previous history of C. difficile

  • Other predisposing drugs: proton pump inhibitors, histamine receptor antagonists, antacids, NSAIDS

  • Profuse, watery diarrhea

  • Pseudomembranous colitis or toxic megacolon

  • May colonize GI tract

  • Search Terms: CDI, Clostridium difficile, Cdiff
  • Discontinue concomitant antibiotics whenever possible
  • Do not test patients receiving concomitant laxatives
  • Avoid antiperistaltic medicine during the acute phase