What Is C. diff?
3. Range of Hosts
C. diff is an organism that can affect not only humans but also calves and pigs. This bacterium can inhabit in feces of domestic animals, humans, and can be found in retail meat, sewage, human intestinal tract, and in soil. Based on a study by the Center of Disease Control (CDC) in 2015, it is estimated that in 2011, C. diff affected about 500,000 Americans, which resulted in 29,000 deaths.
This study also found that 40% of cases originated from community healthcare settings such as nursing homes while an additional 24% began in hospitals. C. diff can be commonly be found in the human digestive system but is often outcompeted by other bacteria. When an antibiotic is used, it disrupts the balance of bacteria in the gut and allows the proliferation of C. diff.
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