This is a Gram positive bacillus that produces spores and requires anaerobic conditions for growth. It forms part of the normal intestinal flora in children less than one year old.
The spores of Clostridium difficile are able to survive for long periods of time in the environment.
C. difficile spores are less resistant to a variety of chemical disinfectants than test spores used in standard analytical chemical sporicidal tests. Exposure for 10 minutes to 2% glutaraldehyde has been shown to inactivate C. difficile spores.
source : http://www.health.qld.gov.au/EndoscopeReprocessing/module_1/1_3d.asp#Cdiff
Photo courtesy of JA Hobot University of Wales College of Medicine UK
Disease
-
causes antimicrobial associated diarrhoea and colitis
-
infection ranges from asymptomatic colonisation or faecal excretion to pseudomembraneous colitis
Mode of Transmission
Transmission is via the faecal-oral route and can occur from patient to patient from the contaminated environment or the hands of HCW's.The spores of Clostridium difficile are able to survive for long periods of time in the environment.
Significance in endoscopy
There are several reports of possible endoscopic transmission of C. difficile but none have been definite.C. difficile spores are less resistant to a variety of chemical disinfectants than test spores used in standard analytical chemical sporicidal tests. Exposure for 10 minutes to 2% glutaraldehyde has been shown to inactivate C. difficile spores.
source : http://www.health.qld.gov.au/EndoscopeReprocessing/module_1/1_3d.asp#Cdiff