Which antibiotic is most likely to cause Clostridium difficile infection?

Clindamycin is particularly associated with an increased risk of Clostridium difficile infection due to its mechanism of action and its impact on the gut microbiota. This antibiotic works by inhibiting protein synthesis in bacteria, which ultimately leads to the suppression of a wide range of bacteria, including those that are part of the normal flora of the intestines. When normal gut flora is disrupted, it creates an opportunity for Clostridium difficile, an opportunistic pathogen, to proliferate.

Clindamycin is known to be highly active against anaerobic bacteria, which includes those that normally help to keep C. difficile in check. When these protective bacteria are eliminated, C. difficile can flourish, leading to infection. This is why Clindamycin is one of the antibiotics most frequently linked to C. difficile-associated diarrhea and colitis.

In contrast, while other antibiotics like azithromycin and vancomycin can also contribute to the risk of C. difficile infection, they do so to a lesser extent or with a different mechanism. Metronidazole, on the other hand, is often used to treat C. difficile infections rather than cause them. Thus, clindamycin stands out as the antibiotic with a strong link to the