Clostridium difficile

Precautions

Contact Precautions
Contact Precautions

General Information

Pathogen information

Anaerobic spore forming gram positive bacilli, box-car shaped

Epidemiology

  • 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.

Associated syndromes

  • Wide range of symptoms possible, and 15% are asymptomatic

  • Profuse, watery diarrhea

  • Pseudomembranous colitis or toxic megacolon

  • Normal colonizer in infants

Additional Information

  • Probiotics may be helpful

  • In refractory cases, stool transplants have been effective