Infectious DiseasePending review

Clostridioides difficile infection

Toxin-mediated colitis that follows antibiotic disruption of the normal gut flora, allowing a spore-forming organism to overgrow and damage the colonic mucosa.

In a nutshell

Broad-spectrum antibiotics destroy the competing gut flora that normally provide colonisation resistance, letting C. difficile spores germinate and overgrow. Disease is caused by toxins A and B damaging the colonic epithelium, producing colitis that ranges from mild diarrhoea to pseudomembranous colitis and toxic megacolon.

Classic presentation

Watery diarrhoea and abdominal cramping developing in a hospitalised patient during or shortly after a course of broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Key points

Recent broad-spectrum antibiotic use is the dominant risk factor because it destroys colonisation resistance.

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Educational content pending clinical review. Not medical advice.