Summary

Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is the leading infectious cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in hospitals. It causes mild to moderate self-limiting diarrhea to severe inflammation of the colon, which may require surgery or result in death. Since 2000, cases of C. difficile associated disease have increased significantly, with many patients experiencing severe inflammation of the colon [Gelone et al. ICAAC 2006 K1006].