Clostridioides (ex. Clostridium) difficile
Paul G. Auwaerter, M.D.
MICROBIOLOGY
MICROBIOLOGY
MICROBIOLOGY
- Spore-forming anaerobe, Gram-positive bacillus [Fig 1].
- Found in human and animal feces, also in water and soils.
- Reclassified as molecular sequencing suggests that the organism should be in the Peptostreptococcaceae family and termed Peptoclostridium.
- Clostridioides difficile name was selected to differentiate from Clostridiaspp., which are not related but allow for less clinical confusion moving from the long-standing terminology of Clostridium difficile[18].
- Produces toxins A and B that cause colitis in humans.
- Occasionally grown in anaerobic cultures, rarely a cause of infection other than colitis.
- Resistance described to metronidazole and high MICs correlates with poorer outcomes[8].
- Increased MICs to vancomycin and fidaxomicin were also seen in some isolates rarely, but the clinical significance is not certain[7].
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