C. difficile
/ˌsiː dɪfɪˈsiːl/ /ˌsiː ˈdɪfɪsiːl/ /ˌsiː ˈdɪfɪsɪl/noun
Frequently italicized. The Gram-positive, anaerobic, toxin-producing bacterium Clostridium difficile, which is a frequent cause of antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis and hospital-acquired diarrhoeal illness.
Origin
1960s; earliest use found in Journal of Bacteriology. Shortened from scientific Latin Clostridium difficile, name of a species of bacterium from Clostridium + classical Latin difficile, neuter singular of difficilis, although the usual pronunciation apparently reflects an apprehension that the name shows French difficile.
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