Epidemiology, microbiology, chinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment of clostridium difficile

Clostridium difficile is the causative organism of antibiotic associated colitis. Colonization of the intestinal tract occurs via the fecal-oral route and is facilitated by disruption of normal intestinal flora due to antimicrobial therapy. The organism is capable of elaborating exotoxins that bind to receptors on intestinal epithelial cells, leading to inflammation and diarrhea Our understanding of C. difficile microbiology and epidemiology is changing rapidly. In this review article we discuss microbiology, epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and prevention and treatment of C. difficile