Clostridium difficile, also known as C. diff, is typically caused by the overuse of antibiotics, which disrupt the balance of bacteria in the gut and allow C. diff to overgrow. Other risk factors include the following:
Taking antibiotics or other medications
Your intestines contain about 100 trillion bacterial cells and between 500 to 2,000 different kinds of bacteria, many of which help protect your body from infection. When you take antibiotics to treat an infection, these drugs tend to destroy some of the helpful bacteria in your body in addition to the bacteria causing the infection.
Without enough helpful bacteria to keep it in check, C. difficile can quickly grow out of control. While any antibiotic can be implicated, the antibiotics that most often lead to C. difficile infection include:
- Clindamycin
- Cephalosporins
- Penicillins
- Fluoroquinolones
Proton pump inhibitors, a type of medicine used to reduce stomach acid, also may increase your risk of C. difficile infection.
Staying in a health care facility
The majority of C. difficile infections occur in people who are or who have recently been in a health care setting — including hospitals, nursing homes and long-term care facilities — where germs spread easily, antibiotic use is common and people are especially vulnerable to infection. In hospitals and nursing homes, C. difficile spreads on:
- Hands
- Cart handles
- Bedrails
- Bedside tables
- Toilets and sinks
- Stethoscopes, thermometers or other devices
- Telephones
- Remote controls
Having a serious illness or medical procedure
Certain medical conditions or procedures may make you more susceptible to a C. difficile infection, including:
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Weakened immune system from a medical condition or treatment (such as chemotherapy)
- Chronic kidney disease
- Gastrointestinal procedure
- Other abdominal surgery
Colon problems, such as inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS) or colorectal cancer.
IBS is a chronic condition that affects the large intestine and causes symptoms such as abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, and changes in bowel habits. It is not fully understood what causes IBS, but some researchers believe that it may be related to a disruption in the balance of gut bacteria. Additionally, people with colorectal cancer may have weakened immune system which can make them more susceptible to C. diff.
Other risk factors
Older age is a risk factor. In one study, the risk of becoming infected with C. difficile was 10 times greater for people age 65 and older compared with younger people.
Having one C. difficile infection increases your chance of having another one, and the risk continues to increase with each infection.
Women are more likely than men to have C. difficile infection, for reasons that are not clearly understood.