Clostridioides (ex. Clostridium) difficile
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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Last updated: September 10, 2023
Citation
Auwaerter, Paul G. "Clostridioides (ex. Clostridium) Difficile." Johns Hopkins ABX Guide, The Johns Hopkins University, 2023. Johns Hopkins Guides, www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540134/all/Clostridioides__ex__Clostridium__difficile.
Auwaerter PG. Clostridioides (ex. Clostridium) difficile. Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2023. https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540134/all/Clostridioides__ex__Clostridium__difficile. Accessed September 29, 2023.
Auwaerter, P. G. (2023). Clostridioides (ex. Clostridium) difficile. In Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University. https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540134/all/Clostridioides__ex__Clostridium__difficile
Auwaerter PG. Clostridioides (ex. Clostridium) Difficile [Internet]. In: Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2023. [cited 2023 September 29]. Available from: https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540134/all/Clostridioides__ex__Clostridium__difficile.
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