Clostridium Difficile

• Is clostridium difficile more resistant to commonly used antibiotics than other bacterial flora in the large intestinal tract?

  Yes.
• What does administration of broad spectrum antibiotics for treatment of infection of c.difficile cause?

  Antibiotic-associated diarrhea

  Also inhibits the susceptible large intestinal bacterial flora

  C. difficile is not inhibited and is able to multiply
• When C.difficile is not inhibited by broad spectrum antibiotics and is able to multiply, what does it produce?

  produces an enterotoxin and a cytotoxin

  the toxins act on large intestinal lining
• Effects of the toxins produced by C.difficile result in?

  Antibiotic associated diarrhoeal illnesses including pseudomembranous colitis
• What is the focus of section three of the study material?

  Overview of Clostridium difficile
• What does the term "difficile" mean in Spanish?

  It means difficult
• What type of organism is Clostridium difficile?

  Gram-positive bacillus
• What color does C. difficile appear under a Gram stain?

  Purple
• What does the brown mud symbolize in the image?

  Intestines
• What do the flowers next to the mud represent?

  Normal intestinal flora
• What do the snails symbolize in relation to C. difficile?

  Spore-forming organism
• Why is the man testing the mud with a test tube wearing a mask?

  To symbolize C. difficile as an obligate anaerobe
• What do contact precautions include for C. difficile patients?

  Non-sterile gloves and gown
• What does the military vehicle symbolize in the image?

  Clindamycin
• How does clindamycin affect the risk of C. difficile infection?

  Increases the risk of infection
• What happens when antibiotics kill healthy intestinal flora?

  Infection from pathogenic organisms can occur
• What do proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) increase the risk of?

  1. C.difficile infection
• What are the two toxins associated with C. difficile?

  Toxin A and Toxin B
• What type of toxin is Toxin A?

  Enterotoxin
• What does Toxin A cause in the intestines?

  Intestinal inflammation and fluid secretion
• What type of toxin is Toxin B?

  Cytotoxic
• What does Toxin B induce in cells?

  Cellular apoptosis
• How do both toxins A and B affect the cytoskeleton?

  They disrupt the integrity of the cytoskeleton
• What do the tires in the image symbolize?

  Pseudomembranes
• What condition do toxins A and B cause?

  Pseudomembranous colitis
• What do toxins A and B cause in terms of bowel movements?

  Diarrhea
• How is C. difficile diagnosed?

  Using PCR from stool samples
• What does PCR detect in C. difficile infections?

  The gene that encodes for toxin B
• What antibiotic can be used to treat C. difficile?

  Oral vancomycin
• What does "metro" symbolize in the context of C. difficile treatment?

  Metronidazole
• What does fidaxomicin represent in the treatment of C. difficile?


  It can be used to treat C. difficile infections
• What is the purpose of a fecal microbiota transplant?

  To introduce new intestinal flora
• What is a key risk factor for developing a C. difficile infection?

  Prior antibiotic exposure
• What does the question about the 73-year-old female suggest regarding her condition?

  She likely has a C. difficile infection
• What does the presence of the TCD B gene indicate?

  It indicates a toxin produced by C. difficile
• What is the correct answer regarding the function of the toxin in the question stem?

  It disrupts the integrity of the cytoskeleton
• Why is clindamycin mentioned in relation to C. difficile infections?

  It is a classic example of antibiotics increasing risk
• What is the significance of the skull symbol on the drill sergeants?

  It represents disruption of the cytoskeleton
• What is the relationship between antibiotic exposure and C. difficile?

  Antibiotic exposure increases the risk of infection
• What does the muddy course symbolize in the context of C. difficile?

  It represents the environment for infection