What is Clostridium difficile (C. difficile)?

Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is bacteria that can cause an infected bowel or dehydration, says Liz Rigney, RN, of HCA Englewood Community Hospital. Watch this video to learn who is susceptible to C. difficile.

Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a bacterium that can cause an infection called colitis, resulting in abdominal pain and diarrhea. A person may become susceptible to C. difficile if taking certain antibiotics for some other reason; the antibiotic may decimate the colonies of bacteria normally carried in the colon, thereby allowing C. difficile to thrive.

C. difficile is a germ that causes diarrhea and other intestinal problems. When a person takes antibiotics, good germs that protect against infection are destroyed for several months. During this time, people getting medical care can get sick from C. difficile if the germ is spread to them from contaminated surfaces, such as sinks, or from healthcare providers' hands.

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