Clostridium difficile infection biopsy

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Yazan Daaboul, M.D.

On microscopic examination, erosions within colonic crypts or formation of mushroom-like exudates with hemorrhage and necrosis are characteristic features of C. difficile infection.

On microsopic pathology, the following characteristic features may be present in C. difficile colitis:

• Erosions within colonic crypts with pseudomembrane formation, which contains neutrophils, fibrin, and necrotic debris
• Linear neutrophilic infiltration at the level of the lamina propria and within areas of necrosis
• Necrotizing enteritis with or without hemorrhage
• Submucosal edema
• Inflammatory exudates (mushroom-like)

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