Cloristridium difficile

Question 1

What is shown in the following gram stain?

Answer 1

Cloristridium difficile

Question 2

What does clostridium dfficile cause?

Answer 2

Pseudomembranous colitis

Question 3

What % of hospital acquired anitbiotic-associated diarrhoea does C.difficile account for?

Answer 3

25%

Question 4

Name 2 antibiotics which are used to treat C.difficile infections

Answer 4

Metronidazole

Vancomycin

Question 5

What investigations should be done for a suspected C.difficile infection?

Answer 5

• FBC (WCC eill be elevated)
• Renal function test and electroytes
• Stool sample

Question 6

How should a C.difficile infection be managed?

Answer 6

IV fluids and electrolytes

Cease causative antibiotic/change antibiotic

May require surgery

Question 7

What are the risk factors acquiring a C.difficile infection?

Answer 7

Prolonged antibiotic usage

Multiple antibiotic usage

Non-surgical invasive GI procedures

Inpatient residence on ITU