Related Experiment Video For Clostridium difficile
Updated: May 6, 2026
Cefoperazone-treated Mouse Model of Clinically-relevant Clostridium difficile Strain R20291
Published on: December 10, 2016
Histologic findings and clinical characteristics in acutely symptomatic ulcerative colitis patients with superimposed
Tao Wang1, Larissa Matukas, Catherine J Streutker
12-099 Carter Wing, St Michael's Hospital, 30 Bond St, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5B 1W8; streutkerc@smh.ca.
Objectives:
To examine biopsy specimens for histologic features suggestive of Clostridium difficile infection in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC).
Methods:
Nine patients with UC had colonic biopsy specimens taken during a symptomatic flare that coincided with positive C difficile (C difficile+) tests. Twenty-eight controls were biopsied during a UC flare but tested negative for C difficile. We reviewed the slides for evidence of pseudomembranes, ischemic-like changes, degree of colitis, and lamina propria hemorrhage.
Results:
In C difficile+ patients, 4 (44.4%) of 9 had microscopic pseudomembranes compared with 11% in controls (P < .05). Other histologic/clinical features were not predictive.
Conclusions:
Although the presence of microscopic pseudomembranes suggests C difficile infection in patients with UC, sensitivity and specificity are poor; biopsy findings do not reliably detect this infection in patients with UC.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:20Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Ulcerative Colitis
01:20Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations
01:27Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...
01:26Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Introduction
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by...
01:25Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease