UKMLA PLAB AMC USMLE Prometric MCQ

Question Number 1105
Question:
A woman aged 56 years had voluminous watery diarrhea some time after extensive surgery, radiation and chemotherapy for a pelvic malignancy. Examination demonstrated pseudomembranes covering her colostomy.
Stools obtained through her colostomy demonstrated Clostridium difficile toxin type B.
The main precipitating factor leading to the causative infection is likely to be

a) immunosuppression
b) radiation Injuiry to the colonic mucosa
c) short bowel syndrome
d) hypersensitivity to antibiotic treatment
e) the use of broad spectrum antibiotics