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clostridium-difficile-infection-pathogenesis-and-clinical-findings

Clostridium difficile (C. diff) Infection Authors: Ryan Brenneis, Sravya Kakumanu Reviewers: Yoyo Chan, Sean Doherty, Vina Fan, Ben Campbell, Dr. Steve Vaughan*, Dr. Sylvain Coderre* * MD at time of publication Community exposure Infected close contacts Nosocomial exposure (most common) Poor hand hygiene and sanitization of surfaces and medical equipment Nosocomial risk factors Any antibiotic use (Especially clindamycin, fluoroquinolones, penicillins, cephalosporins) ↑ Antibiotic resistant strains Presence of pre-disposing risk factors (Note: do not need to be present for infection) Recent GI surgery Chemotherapy that has antimicrobial and immunosuppressive effects Usage of medications that reduce stomach acid (↑ pH) ↑ C. diff spores on surfaces and personnel Contact exposure Environmental exposure to C. diff carriers Inoculation of GI tract Disruption of normal gut microbiome allowing C. diff overgrowth Comorbidities (>65 years old, cirrhosis, inflammatory bowel disease, enteral feeding, obesity) via fecal-oral route Clostridium difficile Infection of GI Tract Spores unaffected by antibiotics germinate post-antibiotic treatment Infection recurrence Pseudomembranous colitis on endoscopy (colonic ulcerations potentially seen with severe infection) Hypotension Acute kidney injury Release of C. diff toxin A and B inactivates Rho and Ras GTPases in colonic epithelial cells (colonocytes) (Rho and Ras GTPases control cytoskeletal dynamics and gene expression) Cytoskeletal disorganization and arrest of RNA synthesis causes necrosis of colonocytes and triggers host immune response Neutrophil chemotaxis and activation ↑ Inflammation of colon Disruption of tight junctions between colonocytes Release of fluid into intestinal lumen and inability of colon to reabsorb it Toxic megacolon Bowel perforation Bloody stool (<10% of patients) Abdominal cramps Large bowel dilation from muscle paralysis Inflammation and destruction of underlying smooth muscle Breakdown of colonocyte cell membranes Inflammation of visceral peritoneum Volume depletion Watery diarrhea: ↑ frequency, small volume Legend: Pathophysiology Mechanism Sign/Symptom/Lab Finding Complications Published March 30, 2019, updated May 16, 2022 on www.thecalgaryguide.com