File:The Increase in Clostridium Difficile in North America.jpeg

Introduction

Clostridium difficile infection, or CDI, has become more prevalent through both the United States and Canada in recent years. The infection is spread by spores of the bacteria Clostridium difficile, also known as C. diff. The bacteria themselves are very common in the soil and can be found in the human intestine. In fact, C. difficile exists in around 2-5% of the adult population. When they are in a stressful environment, the bacteria will produce spores that can tolerate more extreme conditions than the bacteria themselves. The bacteria become pathogenic when these spores are produced in the human gut. The spores contain toxins, such as enterotoxin (Clostridium difficile toxin A) and cytotoxin (Clostridium difficile toxin B). Patients with these spores can have diarrhea and inflammation in the body. While the majority of the infections from C. diff can be treated with antibiotics, there are some strains that are increasing in their antibiotic resistance. Thus, many patients with CDIs aren’t able to receive adequate treatment for their infections, so many cases are becoming more severe. The prevalence of these cases is also increasing. While scientists are still trying to investigate the exact reason, certain studies have identified an emerging strain of Clostridium difficile that appears to be completely antibiotic-resistant. Additionally, the risk for CDI increases in patients who have been on antibiotic therapy because antibiotics kill some of the normal bacteria in the intestines. This activates C. difficile so that spores are produced and infect the body. As more and more North Americans become accustomed to daily or regular antibiotics, their risk of getting C. diff increases, leading to more cases in recent years.

Bacterial Characteristics

Secretion of Toxins

Symptoms of C. Diff

Treatments and their Risks

Increasing Prevalence