Question

Clostridium difficile is a Gram-positive entericpathogen that is a significant concern in hospital settings due toresistance to many types of antibiotics. A healthy individual cannormally resist infection by this pathogen, but under certainconditions an individual can become infected and develop severecolitis that can be life-threatening. One such condition istreatment of patients with broad-spectrum antibiotics.

A. Given that infection by this pathogen occurs under certainconditions, such as broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment, how wouldyou characterize this pathogen? (3 points)

B. Other factors that may contribute to developing C.difficile infection are changes in the gastrointestinal florawith age or disease, gastrointestinal surgery and use ofantiperistaltic drugs. Why do you think these factors influenceC. difficile infection? You don’t have to explain eachfactor individually, just think about the common basis of thesefactors. Hint: think about the human relationship with the majorityof microbes in the gut. (7 points)