C. diff

noun \ ˈsē-ˈdif \

variants: or less commonly C-diff

Definition of C. diff

plural C. diff also 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

First Known Use of c. diff

1990

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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Medical Dictionary

C. diff

noun \ ˈsē-ˈdif \

variants: also C-diff

medical Definition of C. diff

plural C. diff also 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, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2006

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, USA Today, 16 Aug. 2012