label: Clostridium difficile Infection
label_lc: clostridium difficile infection
description: A bacterial infection caused by Clostridium difficile (Clostridioides difficile), which is a spore-forming, toxin-producing Gram-positive anaerobic bacillus that is transmitted by the fecal-oral route. Infection may cause symptoms ranging from diarrhea to life-threatening inflammation of the colon, and risk factors include use of antibiotic medication, advanced age, and hospital or long-term care facility admission.