C. diff

\ ˈsē-ˈdif

variants: or less commonly C-diff

plural C. diff also C-diff

Definition of C. diff

: a rod-shaped, spore-producing, gram-positive bacterial clostridium (Clostridium difficile) that occurs widely in soil and water and sometimes in human and animal intestines and that may produce a toxin causing intestinal illness (such as diarrhea) especially in those receiving antibiotic therapy Many healthy people harbor a few C. diff among the millions of bacteria in the colon. When C. diff hangs out in the form of inert spores, it's harmless. But if antibiotic therapy knocks off the normal bacteria, C. diff springs to life, producing two toxins that attack the colon.— Harvey B. Simon

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Cite this Entry

“C. diff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/C.%20diff. Accessed 4 Aug. 2020.

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C. diff

noun

\ ˈsē-ˈdif

variants: also C-diff

plural C. diff also C-diff

Medical Definition of C. diff

: a rod-shaped, spore-producing, gram-positive bacterium (Clostridium difficile) that occurs widely in soil and water and sometimes in human and animal intestines and that may produce a toxin causing intestinal illness (such as diarrhea) especially in those receiving antibiotic therapy Many healthy people harbor a few C. diff among the millions of bacteria in the colon.— Harvey B. Simon Anyone admitted to the hospital with diarrhea and a recent history of using antibiotics or other drugs linked to C. diff infections is isolated immediately and tested for the bacteria.— Peter Eisler C-diff, as it's called, is a rising problem across North America and in parts of Europe.— Ben Harder