Can eating poop save you from the deadly bacterium C. diff

Credit: American Chemical Society

Every year, around half a million people in the United States get sick from the bacterium C. diff, often after taking antibiotics.

Sounds counterintuitive?

This week on Reactions, we break down why that happens, and how an unlikely hero could save the day.

Reactions is a video series produced by the American Chemical Society and PBS Digital Studios.

The American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society, is a not-for-profit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress.

ACS is a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences.

ACS does not conduct research, but publishes and publicizes peer-reviewed scientific studies. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.