The infection prevention program notes on Clostridioides difficile spores. Which statement should be emphasized about the spores?

• A. They are resistant to antibiotics
• B. They are easily killed by antibiotics
• C. They do not survive on surfaces
• D. They are never transmitted person-to-person

Answer: (A)

Clostridioides difficile forms hardy spores that resist many forms of killing, including antibiotics. Because spores are dormant and have protective coats, antibiotics that kill actively growing bacteria don’t touch these spores. As a result, the spore reservoir can persist in patient rooms and on surfaces, enabling transmission even when antibiotic therapy is ongoing. This is why infection prevention focuses on environmental cleaning with sporicidal agents and strict hand hygiene and contact precautions to interrupt spread. The other statements don’t fit the biology: spores aren’t easily killed by antibiotics, they can survive on surfaces for long periods, and they are capable of person-to-person transmission through contaminated hands or objects.