Clostridioides difficile

Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile, formerly known as Clostridium difficile) is a Gram-positive, spore-forming, anaerobic bacteria that can cause severe infections in the human gastrointestinal system. C. difficile is the most common cause of healthcare-associated diarrhea and can lead to life-threatening colitis in severe cases.<ref>

Clostridioides difficile Infection(link). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Accessed 2023-05-05.

</ref>

23247 lores

Pseudomembranoese Colitis Endo1

Epidemiology

C. difficile infections (CDIs) are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in healthcare settings such as hospitals and long-term care facilities. The incidence of CDI has increased over the past few decades, with elderly patients and those with compromised immune systems being at the highest risk.<ref>Peniche, A. G., Savidge, T. C., & Dann, S. M.,

 Clostridium difficile infection: A review of current and emerging therapies, 
 Annals of Gastroenterology, 
 2016,
 Vol. 29(Issue: 2),
 pp. 147-154,
 
 
 
 
 Full text,</ref>

Pathogenesis

C. difficile produces two primary toxins, toxin A and toxin B, which cause inflammation and damage to the intestinal mucosa. The bacteria can form spores that are resistant to environmental conditions and are easily transmitted between individuals. CDI typically occurs when the normal gut flora is disrupted, often due to antibiotic use, which allows C. difficile to proliferate and produce toxins.<ref>Rupnik, M., Wilcox, M. H., & Gerding, D. N.,

 Clostridium difficile Infection: An Overview of the Disease and Its Pathogenesis, Epidemiology and Interventions, 
 Gut Microbes, 
 2010,
 Vol. 1(Issue: 4),
 pp. 234-242,
 
 
 
 
 Full text,</ref>

Clinical manifestations

Symptoms of CDI can range from mild diarrhea to severe colitis, toxic megacolon, and even death. Common symptoms include:

Watery diarrhea (occurring at least three times per day for two or more days) Abdominal pain or cramping Fever Loss of appetite Nausea Dehydration<ref>

Symptoms & Causes of C. difficile(link). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Accessed 2023-05-05.

</ref>

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of CDI typically involves stool testing for the presence of C. difficile toxins or the bacteria itself. Additional tests may include endoscopy or imaging studies, such as abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans, to assess the severity of the infection and potential complications.<ref>

Diagnosis of C. difficile(link). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Accessed 2023-05-05.

</ref>

Treatment

The primary treatment for CDI includes the discontinuation of the inciting antibiotic (if possible) and the initiation of a targeted antibiotic regimen, such as metronidazole, vancomycin, or fidaxomicin.<ref>McDonald, L. C., Gerding, D. N., Johnson, S., Bakken, J. S., Carroll, K. C., Coffin, S. E., ... & Wilcox, M. H.,

 Clinical practice guidelines for Clostridium difficile infection in adults and children: 2017 update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), 
 Clinical Infectious Diseases, 
 2018,
 Vol. 66(Issue: 7),
 pp. e1-e48,
 
 
 
 
 Full text,</ref> In severe or recurrent cases, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) may be considered to restore the normal gut flora and prevent further CDI recurrence.<ref>Gough, E., Shaikh, H., & Manges, A. R., 
 Fecal microbiota transplantation for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection, 
 Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, 
 2014,
 Vol. 48(Issue: 3),
 pp. 241-247,
 
 
 
 
 Full text,</ref>

Prevention

Preventing the spread of C. difficile involves implementing strict infection control measures, such as hand hygiene, contact precautions, and environmental cleaning. In addition, judicious use of antibiotics is crucial in reducing the risk of CDI.<ref>

Prevention of C. difficile(link). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Accessed 2023-05-05.

</ref>

See also

Antibiotic-associated diarrhea Infection control Probiotics Pseudomembranous colitis

References

This article is a medical stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it!
Most recent articles Ongoing trials	Wikipedia

This article is a medical stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it!
Most recent articles Ongoing trials	Wikipedia