Clostridium Difficile

Question 1

Who is at risk of C Diff?

Answer 1

Patients with a recent history of anti-microbial usage

Question 2

What does C diff cause symptomatically?

Answer 2

Diarrhoea

Sever cases- pseudomembrane colitis

Question 3

How do you treat C diff?

Answer 3

Stop antimicrobials that are causing it
Fluid replacement
Metronidazole orally

Question 4

How do you confirm C diff?

Answer 4

Pseudo-memebrane colitis may be visible on colonoscopy
Stool cultures
ELISA for toxin A + B

Question 5

What is the mechanism of disease for C diff?

Answer 5

Its a commensal of the gut that when the other commensals are attacked by antimicrobials can over grow and become pathogenic

Question 6

What is Protein A?

Answer 6

Enterotoxin which causes excessive fluid secretion and inflammation

Question 7

What is protein B?

Answer 7

Cytotoxin that disrupts protein synthesis and the cytoskeleton

Question 8

Describe the gram stain of C Diff.

Answer 8

Gram positive Bacilli

Question 9

Is C diff anaerobic or aerobic?

Answer 9

Anaerobic

Question 10

Why is C diff so pathogenic and spread so easily?

Answer 10

It forms spores that remain in the environment for a long time and spores are extremely hard to treat.