What is this infections disease called clostridium dificile? Where can I get more information about it.?

Question

Is this more serious than MRSA? How do you combat the disease?

Answer 1

C-diff (Clostridium difficile) is an organism that is naturally present in the intestinal tract, especially of very young children. There are several ways that someone could develop a symptomatic C-diff infection. Over using antibiotics, frequent use of enemas, intestinal surgery, and nasogastric tubes can all cause a change in the balance of organisms of the intestine. When the digestive tract works well, all the bacteria and organisms that live in it work together to help breakdown food so nutrients can be absorbed. If we do something that causes one organism to die off, the remaining organisms can grow and multiply unchecked. That's how many C-diff infections start. C-diff produces a toxin that causes watery stool with a very strong distinctive odor. In some cases the infection becomes so bad that colitis (an irritation of the lining of the intestine) develops and blood and/or mucus can be found in the stool. C-diff also produces spores. The spores of C-diff can live over a month outside the body. Touching a contaminated surface, then putting one's hands into their mouth, or preparing food with unclean hands, transfers it to others. C-diff is diagnosed by testing a stool sample. It can be treated by treating the symptoms. Certain antibiotics have been associated with C-diff, and if a patient is taking one of them, their medications would need to be changed. The greatest danger with C-diff infections is dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. Electrolytes are lost in the water that passes with the diarrhea instead of being absorbed in the bowel. Electrolyte imbalances can result in dangerous heart arrhythmias.

MRSA is a Staphylococcus aureus infection. Specifically, Staph that is resistant to penicillins and other narrow-spectrum antibiotics. MRSA infections are not limited to the intestinal tract and can be found in the nose, lungs, urine, and wounds. The problem with MRSA is that it is resistant to treatment. In healthy individuals a MRSA infection can go undetected for years. Many healthy people, especially healthcare workers are unknowingly infected, and become carriers of MRSA. In patients with a compromised immune system (such as an AIDS patient, someone undergoing chemo, or an organ recipient), a MRSA infection can be deadly. It isn't so much that MRSA kills them, as it leaves them open to secondary infections.

MRSA is a far more critical illness. It can be very easy to catch (by breathing in the coughs or sneezes of infected individuals), and very hard to treat (as it resists antibiotic therapy).

Answer 2

It is a diarrhea. It is caused many times by taking antibiotics which decrease your normal flora. So many times hospital patients will get. If it is more serious than MRSA would be, I would not believe so. Depends on how sick the person with c. dificile is. To get rid of the disease, you have to take a medication called metronidazole. This med can irritate the stomach at times and you cannot drink alcohol with it otherwise it causes a serious nausea. This includes mouth wash.

Answer 3

You May Mean Clostridium Difficile, if that is the case, you can check out the two articles below:

New Threat From An Old Bug, Epidemic Gut Infection Causing Rapid Rise ...
C. diff is shorthand for Clostridium difficile. ... seen this bacteria in people not usually infected with it," McDonald tells WebMD. ...www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/10/12/health/webmd/main2087188.shtml - 90k - Cached - More from this site
Clostridium difficile definition - Medical Dictionary definitions of ...
... Home > MedTerms medical dictionary A-Z List > Clostridium difficile ... Help | Site Map | WebMD® | Medscape® | eMedicine® | eMedicineHealth® | onhealth ...www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=2760 - 35k - Cached - More from this site
Clostridium Difficile Colitis - eMedicine.com
Offers clinical notes, differentials, treatment options, and follow-up care for the antibiotic-associated diarrhea and colitis caused by Clostridium difficile.
Category: Clostridium Difficile Infection
www.emedicine.com/MED/topic3412.htm - 93k - Cached - More from this site
Clostridium difficile
Read a review of the pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and ... Clostridium difficile causes a variety of diarrheal syndromes, ... WebMD Health. • WebMD ...www.medscape.com/viewarticle/410904 - 18k - Cached - More from this site

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I have been hearing more and more of this being transmitted to people that have never even been to a hospital for a visit, when at one time it was isolated strictly to hospital patients. Beware that many antibiotic resistant strains of "super-bugs" are now
lurking about. It is up to us to find more natural means of treating commom ailments to prevent further destruction of our immune
systems.

Good Luck and Be Well

Answer 4

Toxins produced by Clostridium difficile strains in the GI tract cause pseudomembranous colitis, typically after antibiotic use. Symptoms are diarrhea, sometimes bloody, rarely progressing to sepsis and acute abdomen. Diagnosis is by identifying C. difficile toxin in stool. Treatment is oral metronidazole or vancomycin.
Please see the web pages for more details and images on Clostridium difficile.

Answer 5

C. Dificil causes diarrhea and is especially dangerous for vunerable people.

In my opnion, MRSA is much more serious.

Both are found in the general populace but tend only to infect people that are in hospital where they are ill or vunerable.

Normally you would not catch either of these in ever day life, but you may be a carrier or have it on your hands.

Thats why hygiene is important, especially in hospitals. Use alcohol based hand gels and dont sit on the patients bed.

check out the dept of health answer on it here

http://www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/HealthAndSocialCareTopics/HealthcareAcquiredInfection/HealthcareAcquiredGeneralInformation/HealthcareAcquiredGeneralArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4115800&chk=wHehV/


look at the previous question link below for more answers

Answer 6

c diff is a different bug from MRSA, but still deadly. it is found in the colon and can cause severe diarrhea which leads to dehydration which can lead to death. it can be resolved using antibiotics.
if you or someone you know has it, disinfect every area of the home, car, workspace, etc ASAP. this includes washing all bedding and towels. it is highly contagious.

Answer 7

it is a very infectious disease that gives you a severe case of the runs that smell terrible and the faeces usually has a green tinge. you are given antibiotics to combat it and it depends on whats wrong with you as to whether is is serious or not, it can cause you to become very dehydrated.

Answer 8

c. dif infection, as is commonly called in the medical profession, is a kind of infection that occurs if your body's natural defenses have been weakened, let's say, in this case, too much antibiotics can kill some of your body's normal flora in your gut that actually helps control the number of opportunistic bugs in your gut. if they get outnumbered by these bugs, then infection occurs, hence, there's c. dif. its highly contagious therefore, strict isolation of the patient is observed with contact precautions from discharges. it is treatable and can be fatal if left untreated. this is common in elderly patients who are subjected to polypharmacy of antibiotics in some hospitals.

Answer 9

read the following link

no, C diff is not as dangerous ar MRSA

Answer 10

Diahorrea