Clostridium Difficile Colitis
(Antibiotic-Associated Colitis, C. difficile colitis)

• What is Clostridium difficile colitis (C. difficile?)
• What is Clostridium difficile colitis?
• How does Clostridium difficile cause colitis?
• What are the symptoms of Clostridium difficile colitis?
• Which antibiotics cause Clostridium difficile colitis?
• How is Clostridium difficile colitis diagnosed?
• How is Clostridium difficile colitis treated?
• Why are there relapses of Clostridium difficile colitis?
• How are relapses of Clostridium difficile colitis treated?
• What is new in Clostridium difficile?

What is Clostridium difficile colitis (C. difficile)?

Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a bacterium that is related to the bacterium that cause tetanus and botulism. The C. difficile bacterium has two forms, an active, infectious form that cannot survive in the environment for prolonged periods, and a nonactive, “noninfectious” form, called a spore, that can survive in the environment for prolonged periods. Although spores cannot cause infection directly, when they are ingested they transform into the active, infectious form.

C. difficile spores are found frequently in hospitals, nursing homes, extended care facilities, and nurseries for newborn infants. They can be found on bedpans, furniture, toilet seats, linens, telephones, stethoscopes, fingernails, rings, floors, infants' rooms, and diaper pails. They even can be carried by pets. Thus, these environments are a ready source for infection with C. difficile.

What is Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) colitis?

Antibiotic-associated (C. difficile) colitis is an infection of the colon caused by C. difficile that occurs primarily among individuals who have been using antibiotics. It is the most common infection acquired by patients while they are in the hospital. More than three million C. difficile infections occur in hospitals in the US each year. After a stay of only two days in a hospital, 10% of patients will develop infection with C. difficile. C. difficile also may be acquired outside of hospitals in the community. It is estimated that 20,000 infections with C. difficile occur in the community each year in the U.S.

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