QuestionSBA
QuestionChoice
Clostridium difficile (C. diff) is an opportunistic Gram-positive bacteria, which causes pseudomembranous colitis which is commonly seen in patients who have recently been on a course of broad-spectrum antibiotics (and thus have a brief immunocompromised state, allowing them to succumb to infection). Features of C. diff-associated colitis (inflammation of the colon) include watery (and sometimes bloody) diarrhoea and high fever leading to dehydration.
10004756
a
*Clostridium difficile*
QuestionChoice
Rotavirus is an enterovirus which is commonly acquired through contaminated water or food and is associated with diarrhoea which is not usually bloody and does not lead to systemic illness (i.e. fever). The symptoms described above (high fever and bloody diarrhoea) are more commonly associated with bacterial gastroenteritis.
10004757
b
*Rotavirus*
QuestionChoice
People who acquire Campylobacter jejuni often present with diarrhoea (often bloody), fever and abdominal pain described above. Campylobacter jejuni infections are often acquired after ingesting undercooked meat and do not typically occur after a course of antibiotics.
10004759
d
*Campylobacter jejuni*
QuestionChoice
Although polio is an enterovirus and spreads via the faecal-oral route, it is not associated with causing diarrhoea or symptoms of gastroenteritis. Often people with poliovirus infection report flu-like symptoms of sore throat, headaches and fatigue.
10004758
c
*Poliovirus*
QuestionChoice
Helicobacter pylori is a common cause of stomach (peptic) ulcers and are not associated with symptoms of acute gastroenteritis described above.
10004760
e
*Helicobacter pylori*
Concept
Chapter
2693
4328
Clostridium difficile
Topic
194
Infectious Diseases
13498
An 89-year-old man in a nursing home has just finished a course of co-amoxiclav following a recent community-acquired pneumonia. Shortly after this, he develops bouts of watery, bloody diarrhoea and painful abdominal cramps.

Which of the following organisms is the most likely cause of this patient's presentation?
a