Clostridium Difficile Infection

Overview

Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a bacterium commonly found in your intestines. Sometimes antibiotics used to treat an infection kill good bacteria, allowing C. difficile to grow out of control. C. difficile infection can cause symptoms ranging from diarrhea to life-threatening inflammation of the colon. C. difficile infection is a common and potentially serious complication from a stay in a hospital or long-term care facility.

Why Choose Mayo Clinic

• Expertise. Mayo Clinic specializes in treating people with difficult cases of C. difficile who haven't responded to standard medical treatments or who have developed complications such as an inflamed colon.
• Team approach. Doctors who specialize in digestive and infectious disease work closely with laboratory medicine to diagnose and treat your condition.
• Research. Mayo Clinic doctors are active in C. difficile research and participate in clinical trials to investigate new diagnostic tests and treatments for C. difficile.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., ranks No. 1 for digestive disorders in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings. Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., are ranked high performing for digestive disorders by U.S. News & World Report.

Read more about C. difficile infection on MayoClinic.com.