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Clostridium Difficile

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Clostridium Difficile The healthcare professional can expect to encounter various conditions within their scope of experience. Clostridium difficile represents one of the most common and challenging nosocomial infections that can cause life-threatening complications such as hypervolemia, sepsis, pain, and peritonitis (Grossman and Mager 155). The recognition, diagnosis, treatment and inhibition of transmission of this bacterium are imperative in order to limit infection and prevent death. “Clostridium difficile is a gram positive, spore forming anaerobic bacillus, which may or may not carry the genes for toxin A-B production” (Patel 102). In the 1930’s, Hall and O’Toole first identified C. difficile as plentiful normal bacterial flora in the feces of healthy infants. Initially, it was not considered a pathogen. However, by 1978, researchers recognized that toxins released by Clostridium were found in the fecal matter of patients with antibiotic associated diarrhea and concluded it as the cause of the infection (Keske and Letizia 329). The fecal-to-oral bacterial route transmits this particular bacterium. The ability of C. difficile to develop spores, enable this organism to persevere in the most extreme environmental settings. The spores can survive on common surfaces for months, including bedding, toilets and skin. The resistant quality of this bacterium increases its transmission and reinoculation rate. Chronic inflammation in the intestines can be a result of the ingestion of C. difficile. The spores proliferate, and produce toxins A and B, after germination in the intestines. The introduction of the toxins cause diarrhea, which perpetuates the cycle of transmission as spores are introduced back into the environmental surroundings (Crawford, Huesgen and Danziger 933). At least 75%

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