C. difficile causes disease primarily through the production of two major toxins: Toxin A (an enterotoxin) and Toxin B (a cytotoxin). These toxins disrupt the cytoskeleton of epithelial cells, leading to inflammation, cell death, and the formation of pseudomembranes in the colon. This can result in severe diarrhea, abdominal pain, and in some cases, life-threatening colitis.
