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The causative agent of C. diff is the combination of colitis and diarrhea as a result of antibiotic intake.

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This typically takes place within healthcare facilities and is spread through contact, specifically through the fecal-oral route. This is through contamination of a healthcare workers hands by touching any surface or material that is contaminated and not thoroughly cleansing hands or materials so spores are transferred.

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Symptoms include watery or liquid diarrhea, nausea, fever, abdominal pain, and loss of appetite.

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Most Important Virulence Factor & How It Contributes to Pathogenicity

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Most Important Virulence Factor & How It Contributes to Pathogenicity

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The two major virulence factors are enterotoxin (toxin A) and cytotoxin (toxin B) which are glucosylation toxins meaning they are controlled enzymatically by a sugar molecule, which is necessary for the disease to spread and grow. If there is a low level of these, there is a binary toxin that promotes adhesion to host cells.

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There must be the. presence of loose stool with at least 3-4 occurrences in a 24 hour period. In order to be diagnosed, a sample of the specimen must be retrieved and sent to lab for testing and it must be positive of the toxigenic C. difficile or its toxins.

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The most effective treatment would be the use of antibiotics, fidaxomicin is the best option as it has a lower rate of reoccurrence and Vancomycin is also another antibiotic that can be taken if it is moderate to severe. If it is mild then metronidazole.

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Some methods for controlling the toxins and spores is replacing the gut microflora by antibiotics used to keep it from growing. It can be given orally,  intravenously, even rectally. The endospores are resistant to many antibiotics, so it is hard to control so reoccurrence is very likely.

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The best prevention methods is to rapidly identify and isolate the person and enforce contact precautions. An example of this is what is done in hospitals. There is typically signage outside the patient's door and it means if contact is initiated make sure that gloves and a gown are being worn as well as hand hygiene is performed before and after being in contact with hand soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hand hygiene should be performed before and after every interaction with individuals to reduce the likelihood of bacteria being spread. Other ways to prevent it is to improve prescribing of antibiotics, using the most accurate tests for the best results to prevent any spreading, as well as making sure all surfaces are thoroughly cleaned using spore-killing disinfectants where a C. difficile patient comes in contact.

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Interesting facts or features of the disease or historical relevance

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Interesting facts or features of the disease or historical relevance

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It is roughly found in 1 out of 30 people, but other bacteria is able to eliminate or diminish its presence so it does not result in an infection.

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There are three epidemiologic categories that CDI is classified into which are within the healthcare facility, community-onset healthcare facility associated which occurs with outpatients and community associated when a patient did not have a documented overnight stay within a healthcare facility but had a positive specimen.

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A serious and potentially fatal condition could occur known as pseudomembranous colitis which is an antibiotic associated inflammation of the lining of the colon. For younger ages, there is a larger chance of recovery. Although, for all ages, there is typically recovery within 2 weeks after after receiving antibiotic treatment, but have recurrences after stopping antibiotic therapy within one to three weeks up to two or three months later. For those who are older in age, death can also occur from severity.

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Awad, M., Johanesen, P., Carter, G., Rose, E., & Lyras, D. (2014). Clostridium difficile virulence factors: Insights into an anaerobic spore-forming pathogen. Retrieved May 06, 2021, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4615314/

Bagdasarian, N., Rao, K., & Malani, P. (2015, January 27). Diagnosis and treatment of clostridium difficile in adults: A systematic review. Retrieved April 20, 2021, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6561347/

C;, J. (n.d.). Virulence factors of clostridium difficile and their role during infection. Retrieved May 06, 2021, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26596863/

What is c. diff? (2020, November 16). Retrieved May 06, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/cdiff/what-is.html