how does clostridium difficile cause
C. difficile infection. Overview. Clostridium difficile (klos-TRID-e-um dif-uh-SEEL), often called C. difficile or C. diff, is a bacterium that can cause symptoms ranging from diarrhea to life-threatening inflammation of the colon.
Diarrhea is a frequent side effect of antibiotics, occurring 10â20% of the time. It usually gets better when the antibiotics are stopped. Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is due to a toxin-producing bacteria that causes a more severe form of antibiotic associated diarrhea. The disease ranges from mild diarrhea to severe colon inflammation that can even be fatal.
Many antibiotics alter the balance among the types and quantity of bacteria in the intestine, thus allowing certain disease-causing bacteria to multiply and replace other bacteria. The type of bacteria that most commonly overgrows and causes infection is Clostridium difficile. Clostridium difficile infection releases two toxins that can cause inflammation of the protective lining of the large intestine (colitis).