Pathogens
Clostridium difficile

Clostridium difficile

Precautions

Contact Precautions

Susceptibilities

General Information

Anaerobic spore forming gram positive bacilli, box-car shaped

  • 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 asymptomatic
  • Profuse, watery diarrhea
  • Pseudomembranous colitis or toxic megacolon
  • Normal colonizer in infants
  • Probiotics may be helpful
  • In refractory cases, stool transplants have been effective