Gram stain: positive Cell shape: bacillus Arrangement: single or chains Oxygen requirements: anaerobe Other: endospore former
Habitat: marine sediment; sand; hospital environment; camel, horse and donkey dung; feces of dogs, cats and birds; human genital tract; intestinal tract of humans; human feces.
Pathogenicity: This microbe is responsible for nearly all gastrointestinal infections, ranging from mild diarrhea to severe or even fatal colitis, that follow antibiotic therapy. Pseudomembranous colitis is caused by overgrowth of organism in the colon after normal flora is disturbed by antimicrobial therapy. The organism produces toxins that are lethal to the intestinal epithelium that cause small patches (pseudomembranes) of cell debris, inflammatory cells and clotted serum to form on the colon's lining.
Transmission: fecal-oral route
Treatment: strains are susceptible to penicillin, ampicillin, vancomycin, metronidazole. Strains are resistant to aminoglycosides (70s ribosomes). Lactobacillus may also be prescribed to restore normal intestinal flora.
The name "difficile" came from the fact that this organism is difficult to isolate and study.
Clostridium difficile
