C. diff
Medical abbreviation · Infectious Disease
| Stands for | Clostridioides difficile |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
C. diff stands for Clostridioides difficile, an infectious disease abbreviation.
Spore-forming gut bacterium whose toxins cause diarrhea and colitis, usually after antibiotics disrupt normal gut flora. It is a leading cause of healthcare-associated infection, and severe cases can cause toxic megacolon and death.
Example: C. diff toxin positive, 6 watery stools daily; start fidaxomicin, contact precautions with soap-and-water hand hygiene.
Usage notes
Pronounced "see-diff". Renamed from Clostridium difficile in 2016 after genetic reclassification. Hall and O'Toole named it "difficile" in 1935 because it was difficult to culture. Alcohol hand rubs do not kill its spores, so staff wash with soap and water. Clindamycin, fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins carry high risk.
Related abbreviations
More infectious disease abbreviations
- AMR – Antimicrobial resistance
- ARF – Acute rheumatic fever
- ART – Antiretroviral therapy
- ASP – Antimicrobial stewardship program
- BCG – Bacillus Calmette-Guérin
- BSI – Bloodstream infection
- CD4 – Cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4 T-cell count)
- CDI – Clostridioides difficile infection
- CMV – Cytomegalovirus
- COVID-19 – Coronavirus disease 2019
- CRAB – Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii
- CRE – Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales
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This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.