Case Study 1: Can you recognize the disorder?

A 52-year old man comes to a surgery ward of a district hospital for 2 weeks of abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. The patient underwent the following medical examinations. Your task is to check the results of the tests, diagnose the problem and answer the questions.

Tests performed and their results

Medical history (anamnesis): The patient has never suffered from similar problems before. The first time he spotted some blood in his stools was 2 days following completion of medical treatment of tonsillitis (Amoxicillin taken every 12 hours for one week). The problem keeps getting worse. Noone in the patient's family has ever suffered from blood diarrhea or chronic gastrointestinal problems. 

Blood test: All results were perfectly normal, except a slight hyponatremia (129 mmol/l) and CRP (C-reactive protein), which reached 210 mg/l. Clostridium Difficile bacteria were found in the blood, but not in high concentration. 

Stool test: This test confirmed large amounts of Clostridium Difficile spores in the stools. 

Colonoscopy: This examination showed lots of yellowish bodies on the mucous layer of the colon. A sample was drawn from the colon for histological examination.

Histological examination of the tissue sample: This examination (see image below) showed surface erosions in the mucous layer of the colon (1) with adhesive pseudomembrane (2) consisting of fibrin, mucus and lots of neutrophiles (3). The crypts in the mucous layer were dilated (4) with exsudate forming mushroom like bodies on the mucous layer.  

Quiz questions

1. What is the name of this disorder?
2. What is the causative agent of this condition?
3. What are the treatment options for this condition?