An 82-year old nursing home patient is hospitalized with a 3…
An 82-year old nursing home patient is hospitalized with a 3-day history of severe, recurring diarrhea (8-10 episodes per day), abdominal cramping, fever, nausea, and signs of dehydration. Her symptoms began a few days after completing a course of broad-spectrum antibiotics for an unrelated infection. A stool sample revealed the presence of an anaerobic spore-forming gram-positive bacillus capable of producing toxins (A and B). The doctor orders a CT scan to determine if the patient has developed a life threatening condition that could lead to perforation (a hole) in the colon. The patient is placed on vancomycin and is treated for dehydration. A. Name the bacterium (genus and species) responsible for this patient’s condition. B. What disease does this patient have? C. Explain each clue provided in the narrative.