Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea is usually preceded by which of the following?

• A. Exposure to high temperatures
• B. Antibiotic therapy
• C. Consumption of contaminated water
• D. Viral infection

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the context: Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a bacterium that can cause diarrhea, especially in healthcare settings.
2. Recall that C. difficile-associated diarrhea often occurs after disruption of the normal gut microbiota.
3. Identify the common cause of this disruption, which is usually antibiotic therapy that kills beneficial bacteria, allowing C. difficile to overgrow.
4. Recognize that exposure to high temperatures, consumption of contaminated water, or viral infections are not typical preceding factors for C. difficile-associated diarrhea.
5. Conclude that antibiotic therapy is the usual preceding factor because it alters the gut environment, enabling C. difficile proliferation and toxin production.