Lecture 8: Clostridioides difficile

Fill-in-the-blank flashcards based on the lecture notes about Clostridioides difficile.

Clostridium difficile was discovered in __.

1935

C. difficile is an obligate __.

anaerobe

C. difficile is characterized as a motile, Gram-positive __.

rod

C. difficile has __ spores that are oval and sub-terminal.

intrinsic resistance to many antibiotics

Patients, especially the elderly, become susceptible to C. difficile after treatment with __.

antibiotics

The main risk of C. difficile is __ and colitis caused by the bacteria's multiplication.

potentially fatal diarrhea

C. difficile Toxin A disrupts the cell __.

cytoskeleton

Toxin B (TcdB) causes destruction of the cell cytoskeleton through __.

depolymerization of filamentous actin

Diarrhea from C. difficile may occur __ days after starting antibiotics.

5-10

Additional symptoms of C. difficile infection include abdominal pain, fever, __, malaise, and anorexia.

nausea

Acute toxic megacolon is characterized by acute dilation of the __.

colon

C. difficile can be transmitted through __, often found in bathtubs and toilets.

feces

C. difficile endospores germinate in the __.

small intestine

Two main diagnostic tests include colonoscopy and __.

toxin test

A sensitive stool sample cultivation can provide results within __ hours.

48-96

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detects __ in patient samples.

antigens

People at risk for C. difficile include the elderly, those taking __ and individuals with compromised immune systems.

antibiotics

To prevent C. difficile, wash hands with soap and __ after using the restroom.

warm water

Wash contaminated surfaces with __ and disinfectant if there's an outbreak.

warm water

Environmental cleaning must involve thorough and adequately __ procedures.

resourced

Ongoing transmissions of C. difficile necessitate the use of __ products.

hypochlorite-based

Patients with C. difficile infection often require __ to remove infected parts of the intestine.

surgery

Antimicrobial resistance poses a major threat to __.

public health

In Ireland, healthcare-associated CDI rates show a rise in __ rates per 100,000 population.

incidence

Routine contact precautions include placing patients in __ when possible.

isolation

Healthcare workers should wear __ when treating infected patients.

gloves

The treatment for mild cases of CDAD is generally a course of __ or Vancomycin for 10 days.

oral Metronidazole