Ciproflaxin is a broad spectrum antibiotic that kills most normal microbial inhabitants in the human gut. Clostridium difficile is found in small numbers in the normal flora of some healthy adults however this normal inhabitant of the gut is not affected by ciproflaxin. Clostridium difficile is innately resistant to ciproflaxin. After therapy with ciproflaxin patients who normally carry Clostridium difficile often exhibit Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea. The change in ability of Clostridium difficile to cause disease would best be explained by the statement that [choose the statement below that you would argue is the best explanation.

a. Ciproflaxin interacted with Clostridium difficile in a manner to make the organism more pathogenic.
b. I do not know the answer to this question.
c. Ciproflaxin has killed the microbes that normally compete with Clostridium difficile in the gut allowing the microbe to grow uncontrolled.
d. Ciproflaxin acted as a mutagen. Ciproflaxin induced a mutation in Clostridium difficile to make the organism more pathogenic.

The correct answer would be that Ciproflaxin has killed the microbes that normally compete with Clostridium difficile in the gut allowing the microbe to grow uncontrolled.

The competition for resources normally limits the growth of living organisms. In the absence of competition, organisms grow rapidly and are able to reach a blossoming level that will never be reached with the presence of competitors.

In the case of Clostridium difficile, the removal of most of the normal microbial inhabitants of the human gut pave way for the organism to unlock a new level of growth to the extent that their toxin is able to cause Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea. The lack of competition makes more resources available for the organism to thrive.

The correct option is c.