Clostridium difficile is an anaerobic bacterial spore that may be present in normal bowel flora of about 3 percent of the adult population and over 66 percent of infants, according to Public Health England. When patients are given antibiotics, the normal bowel flora that keeps C. diff in balance is weakened or killed by the antibiotics. That is when C. diff begins to flourish and produce harmful toxins.

Clostridium difficile is an anaerobic bacterial spore that may be present in normal bowel flora of about 3 percent of the adult population and over 66 percent of infants, according to Public Health England. When patients are given antibiotics, the normal bowel flora that keeps C. diff in balance is weakened or killed by the antibiotics. That is when C. diff begins to flourish and produce harmful toxins.