Clostridium difficile
Quick Summary
Clostridium difficile, often shortened to C. diff, is a rod-shaped, spore-producing, gram-positive bacterium. It is commonly found in soil, water, and the intestines of humans and animals. While usually harmless in its dormant spore form, C. diff can cause intestinal illness, particularly diarrhea, when antibiotic therapy disrupts the normal balance of bacteria in the colon. This disruption allows C. diff to multiply and produce toxins that attack the colon. Other species within the Clostridium genus are known to cause serious illnesses such as botulism, tetanus, and gangrene.12
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