Introduction

Abstract

In the few years since the discovery of the role of C. difficile in antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis, the organism has been shown to be involved in many cases of the whole range of antibiotic-associated gastrointestinal disorders as well as cases of pseudomembranous colitis, and diarrhoea, unrelated to recent antibiotic therapy. As with any new pathogen, the discovery of the role of C. difficile in disease was accompanied by a great deal of interest and scientific research. Many of the early problems, such as methods of treatment, were quickly dealt with. The organism has attracted the interest of scientists from a wide variety of disciplines. However, much of the research has raised as many questions as it has answered. The evidence that the disease is an infection and that cross-infection may take place has aroused the interests of those involved in epidemiology and hospital infection, and the fact that in the majority of cases, disruption of the normal gut flora must take place before infection will occur has attracted workers interested in microbial interactions and gut ecology. The recent discovery of a second toxin produced by C. difficile has added yet another facet to this interesting organism and has given added stimulus to researchers in the field of microbial protein toxins.