2007-10-23 13:57:54 · 4 answers · asked by Honeywest 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Infectious Diseases
C dif becomes fatal when not caught soon enough and the pt gets severe diarrhea, and depletes there electrolytes and causes gi bleeding. Its usually more prevalent amongst the elderly who are immunocompromized, or the over use of antibiotics which kill of the normal flora in the intestines and the c dif just takes over.
I have never heard of anyone dying from c dif, but if they do its because the body is weakened from sever diarrhea and electrolyte depletion which may cause arrythmia's etc.....
Pts can get a hole in their intestine from the infeciton and die from peritonitis.
Also. Some strains of c dif are antibiotic resistant, so the infection does not respond to treatment.
2007-10-23 14:36:46 · answer #1 · answered by happydawg 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
C. difficile is the most significant cause of pseudomembranous colitis, a severe infection of the colon, often after normal gut flora is eradicated by the use of antibiotics.
Pseudomembranous colitis -- inflamation, bad absorbtion, diarrhea -- dehydration -- death.
Well, not that simple. Better read it yourself.
2007-10-24 03:46:13 · answer #2 · answered by . 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In cases involving fatality, it may be it's hypervirulence and possible resistance to first-line antibiotics. C. diff infection is not usually fatal.
2007-10-23 21:22:32 · answer #3 · answered by TweetyBird 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When it's not properly treated and left alone...
2007-10-23 21:02:42 · answer #4 · answered by ~Katie~ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋