Clostridium difficile (C. diff) is a bacterial infection of the intestinal tract. Although it occurs less often than many similar illnesses, it still affects hundreds of thousands of people each year, sometimes resulting in death.
Symptoms of C. diff
This bacteria is present in some people all the time but is held in check by healthy bacteria. When it becomes prevalent enough, the toxins it produces cause a number of symptoms, with diarrhea as a key indicator of its presence. In mild infections, it may only occur a few times a day, but in more severe cases it can happen over a dozen times, causing unhealthy weight loss and dehydration.
There may be blood or pus in the stool as it grows worse. Swelling of the abdomen or abdominal pain will likely be present, in the form of cramps or tenderness, largely because of the inflammation to the colon, called pseudomembranous colitis. You may also experience a fever, low white blood cell count, or loss of appetite.
More severe symptoms include organ failure (especially the kidneys). As the lining of the stomach is destroyed by the toxins, bowel perforations (potentially fatal holes) can develop. You may develop ulcers in the stomach lining, called colitis, which will not always go away with the rest of the symptoms. Raw areas of tissue, called plaques, result, and may ooze blood or pus (thus the blood and pus in bowel movements).
Risk Factors for C. diff
Since Clostridium difficile is treated with antibiotics, it is ironic that antibiotics are a leading cause of the initial infection. Certain kinds are more likely to lead to an infestation than others, but the prolonged use of any antibiotic can result in sickness. Taking more than one antibiotic at once also increases the chances of developing C. diff, as can an antibiotic that covers a lot of different types of bacteria.
Also ironic is the fact that although some degrees of infection require hospitalization, the bacteria is more prevalent in healthcare settings. It can last for several hours without a host, which means it can be picked up from nearly any surface, making it extremely important for healthcare workers to be sure they wash their hands frequently—especially when dealing with patients who are receiving gastrointestinal surgery, as that is where Clostridium difficile thrives.
The odds of a C. diff infection are 10 times greater for people over the age of 65, and your risk of reinfection increases by 20% after the first time you get sick from it. Although any normal, healthy child or adult can contract an infection, it is more likely among those with immune systems that are not functioning at full capacity. If you are taking antibiotics, this means your immune system is already fighting, which may make it easier for Clostridium difficile to get out of control. Chronic diseases, especially those related to the GI tract like inflammatory bowel disease, also place you at an increased risk, as do medical treatments, like chemotherapy, that make the body less healthy.
Prevention of C. diff
To combat these overwhelming odds, take antibiotics only as prescribed; if you develop diarrhea during or shortly after taking them, notify your doctor immediately. If you are prescribed antibiotics for a Clostridium difficile infection, take them as directed. Not finishing them can make the strain adapt to the antibiotic and return with a vengeance; the chances of recurring infections increases with each infection. Wash your hands, especially before eating or if you are in a prolonged stay at a hospital—and make sure your doctor does the same.
