Table of Contents
Does C. diff have a biofilm?
Thus, C. difficile forms complex biofilms in vitro which involves multiple regulatory pathways and several virulence-associated proteins.
What is the most common infection caused by Clostridium difficile?
C difficile is now recognized as the most common cause of nosocomial infectious diarrhea. It is responsible for up to 25% of cases of antibiotic-associated diarrhea,5 up to 75% of cases of antibiotic-associated colitis, and greater than 90% of cases of antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis.
What are some of the virulence factors of C. difficile?
Once vegetative cell growth has been established the major virulence factors produced by C. difficile are the exotoxins TcdA and TcdB. Clinical strains that do not produce at least one of these toxins are largely avirulent in animal models10.
What is the portal of exit for Clostridium difficile?
C diff is found in the human intestinal tract. The bacteria exit its reservoir through fecal material.
How is C. difficile infection diagnosed?
The simplest way to detect C. difficile is through a stool test, in which you provide a sample in a sterile container given to you at your doctor’s office or a lab. A pathologist, a doctor who studies diseases in a laboratory, determines whether the sample has signs of C. difficile.
How do you get C. diff infection?
C. diff spreads when people touch food, surfaces, or objects that are contaminated with feces (poop) from a person who has C. diff.
What is the pathogenesis of C. diff?
There are two prerequisites for developing C difficile associated diarrhoea: disruption of the normal gastrointestinal flora, causing diminished colonisation resistance favouring C difficile, and acquisition of the organism from an exogenous source.
Which three main elements make up the chain of infection?
The Infectious Agent – or the microorganism which has the ability to cause disease. The Reservoir or source of infection where the microorganism can live and thrive. This may be a person, an animal, any object in the general environment, food or water. The Portal of Exit from the reservoir.
How is C difficile infection diagnosed?