Clostridioides difficile infections

Clostridioides difficile is an anaerobic bacterium, widely distributed in soil and the intestinal tracts of animals. The clinical spectrum of C. difficile infection (CDI) ranges from mild diarrhoea to severe life threatening pseudomembranous colitis. CDI is generally, but not always associated with previous use of antibiotics. 

The transmission of C. difficile can be patient-to-patient, via contaminated hands of healthcare workers or by environmental contamination. There is an increase of reports of community-acquired CDI in individuals previously not recognised as predisposed.