How does C Difficile make you ill?
The Bacteria
- C difficile bacteria can be found in human excretment. It lives in the large bowel (colon).
- Some C. difficile bacteria produce toxins that can cause diarrhea.
- It can also change to a tougher, harder to kill spore.
- Spores can survive hot and cold temperatures and are resistant to the action of many chemicals, including the alcohol-based hand sanitizers often found in hospitals.
- Because they then ‘hang around’ the spores can infect others
The Disease
- A healthy large bowel has many bacteria.
- Not all of them are destructive and in many cases they stop c difficile from growing if a person is a carrier of the bacteria.
- Antibiotic treatment for other conditions can sometimes kill the bacteria that are holding C difficile in check.
- If the C. difficile strains in a persons stomach are the type that produce toxins, these toxins may make you sick.
- The diarrhea and other symptoms that you may develop in these situations are called Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD)
- (Not all diarrhea while taking antibiotics is caused by C. difficile.)
What is C Diff?
What are the symptoms of C Diff?
How is C Diff treated?
How is C Diff diagnosed?
How does C Difficile make you ill
Why do some people have recurring C Diff infection
How can C diff be prevented
What is the C Diff ‘fecal transplant’ therapy
Is C Difficile contagious?
What is C Difficile colitis
What are C Difficile toxins
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
My son has been tested for c diff and it came back positive and he was treated for it and his test came back positive for a secound time and he was treated for it again. And tested again and it came back posittive again is it possible for him to still be positive and should i really be concerened
There is a pattern of chronic C Diff that does emerge in some patients as Vancocin does not seem to kill it as much as smother it for a while. The new drug Dificid is thought to stop it in in it’s tracks. There is also the possibility of re infection via a variety of sources. Concern arises if the patient has other conditions that the c diff will worsen or sap the strength of the patient to fight.
Dave Roberts
cdifficile.org
I am on dificid. If this doesn’t work after months of treatment I will need a fecal matter transplant. Fmt. I am worried about it. Does anyone know how long it will be in hospital. And how long recovery is
Our reading suggests the process takes a few hours and can be often done as a day patient. The C Diff often stops within 72 hours
Dave
cdifficile.org
can anyone tell me where I can have a fecal transplant done in europe ? If need be, I am even prepared to fly to the US to have it done.
David
my grandpa has cbiff and was giving the meds qestran ( powder form because he’s been haveing diarreaha for quite awhile he has diabeties and his Dr knows but is there anything else he can take also ?