What causes clostridium difficile?
As described above clostridium difficile can live harmlessly in the gut of patients but certain antibiotics can disturb the balance of the bacteria, which then allows clostridium difficile to multiply rapidly and produce toxins which cause illness. It can also be picked up from other people, especially if they have recently had diarrhoea. Clostridium difficile infection is usually spread on the hands of people who have come into contact with infected patients or with contaminated environmental surfaces. This is why staff, visitors and patients need to wash their hands with soap and water and also why cleaning is very important. The elderly are most at risk – over 80 per cent of cases are reported in the over 65 age group.
