What is Clostridium Difficile (C.difficile)?
Clostridium difficile, or C. difficile (a gram-positive anaerobic bacterium), is now recognized as the major causative agent of colitis (inflammation of the colon) and diarrhea that may occur following antibiotic intake. While this bacteria is found commonly throughout the environment, it usually poses no threat of infection unless the natural flora of the intestines is interrupted or the immune system is otherwise compromised. C. difficile infection represents one of the most common hospital (nosocomial) infections around the world. Laboratory studies show that when C. difficile colonize the gut, they release two potent toxins, toxin A and toxin B, which bind to certain receptors in the lining of the colon and ultimately cause diarrhea and inflammation of the large intestine, or colon (colitis). This bacterium is primarily acquired in hospitals and chronic care facilities following antibiotic therapy (symptoms may be delayed until 6-8 weeks after antibiotic use). In addition to antibi
