Clostridium Difficile Infection
Clostridium difficile or CDF/cdf' (commonly mistaken pronunciation (help·info), alternatively and correctly pronounced /klɒsˈtrɪdiəm dɪˈfɪsɪli/) (also referred to as C. diff or C-diff) is a species of bacteria of the genus Clostridium which are Gram-positive, anaerobic, spore-forming rods (bacillus). C. difficile is the most significant cause of pseudomembranous colitis, a severe infection of the colon, often after normal gut flora is eradicated by the use of antibiotics. Treatment is by stopping any antibiotics and commencing specific anticlostridial antibiotics, e.g. metronidazole.