infections
Clostridioides (formerly Clostridium) difficile–Induced Colitis
Introduction
Clostridioides difficile(C. difficile)–induced colitis is an inflammation of the large intestine (colon) that results in diarrhea. The inflammation is caused by toxin produced byC. difficilebacteria and usually develops after people take antibiotics that enable these bacteria to grow in the intestine. C. difficile–induced colitis usually occurs after taking antibiotics. Typical symptoms range from slightly loose stools to bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever. Doctors test the stool and sometimes use a viewing tube to examine the large intestine of people who have symptoms ofC. difficile–induced colitis. Most people who have mildC. difficile–induced colitis get better after the antibiotic that triggered the colitis has been stopped and another antibiotic is taken. ) do not require oxygen to live. That is, they are Overview of Anaerobic Bacteria . Some healthy people haveC. difficilebacteria living in their intestine. (See also Overview of Clostridial Infections .) 