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

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What is Clostridium difficile (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 (jewelry),

  • 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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Symptoms of C. difficile Colitis

Individuals with mild C. difficile colitis may have:

  • a low-grade fever,
  • mild diarrhea (5-10 watery stools a day),
  • mild abdominal cramps and tenderness.

Those with severe C. difficile colitis may have:

  • a high fever (temperature of 102 F to 104 F),
  • severe diarrhea (more than 10 watery stools a day) with blood, and
  • severe abdominal pain and tenderness.

Severe diarrhea also can lead to dehydration and disturbances in the electrolytes (minerals) in the body. Rarely, severe colitis can lead to life-threatening complications such as megacolon (markedly dilated colon), peritonitis (inflammation of the lining of the abdominal), and perforation of the colon.

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