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Pseudomembranous Colitis and Resistant Strains of C. diff Bacteria Clostridium difficile (aka C. diff or CDF) has recently emerged as a serious infectious agent, both deadly and resistant to antibiotics. Here's what you need to know. Members of the bacterial genus Clostridium have been around for ages, causing a wide range of deadly diseases, including tetanus, botulism and gangrene; and they have a number of unusual characteristics that enable them to be such tough little ‘bugs’. Clostridium Can Form Endospores Although Clostridium are a Gram-positive, anaerobic type of bacteria killed by exposure to oxygen, they can also form resistant structures called endospores (somewhat like a ‘bacterial seed’) when stressed. Endospores can remain dormant for decades, germinating into living bacteria when conditions are optimal for... [read full story]
