Clostridium Difficile Infection
Clostridium difficile is a cause of diarrhoea. which is usually acquired in hospital. Clostridium difficile infection causes a spectrum of conditions in susceptible patients, ranging from the asymptomatic carrier state to severe fulminant disease with toxic megacolon .It associated disease is primarily a nosocomial condition. Clostridium difficile is called because when it was first discovered it was difficult to grow in the laboratory. It colonizes the human intestinal tract only after the normal gut flora have been altered by antibiotic therapy and is the causative organism of antibiotic associated colitis. The most cases it causes a relatively mild illness, occasionally and particularly in elderly patients, it may result in serious illness and even death. The bacterium produces two toxins which are responsible for the diarrhoea and which damage the cells lining the bowel. Clostridium difficile bacteria are among hundreds of kinds of bacteria found normally in the intestines. Many play beneficial roles in the body. When a patient takes an antibiotic to treat an infection, It often destroys beneficial bacteria as well as the bacteria that's causing the illness.Clostridium-difficile can quickly grow out of control. Once it takes hold, Clostridium-difficile can produce two virulent toxins that attack the lining of the intestine
Clostridium difficile infection is usually acquired in hospital, and almost all patients who develop C. difficile diarrhoea are taking, or have recently been given, antibiotic therapy. Clostridium difficile is in fact part of the flora, but gets out of balance under certain conditions, such as antibiotic treatment or impaired immunity. Florastor is a product containing the yeast Saccharomyces boulardii; the studies demonstrated that S. boulardii is a good way of fighting recurrent. Clostridium difficile infection. Diarrhoea is the most common symptom but abdominal pain and fever may also occur. This may lead to a grossly dilated bowel possibly resulting in rupture or perforation.
Causes of Clostridium Difficile Infection
Common causes of Clostridium Difficile Infection
- Nosocomial diarrhea.
- Clostridium food poisoning.
- Pseudomembranous colitis.
- Swelling.
- Colon.
- Infection.
- Alcohol.
Symptoms of Clostridium Difficile Infection
Common symptoms of Clostridium Difficile Infection
- Diarrhea.
- Pseudomembranous colitis.
- Clostridium difficile colitis.
- Gas gangrene.
Treatment of Clostridium Difficile Infection
Common Treatment of Clostridium Difficile Infection
- Many hospitals have taken steps to reduce or eliminate the use of clindamycin in the face of rising numbers of cases of Clostridium-difficile-infection and to curb the excessive use of second-and third-generation cephalosporins.
- Paradoxical that the main treatment modality for Clostridium-difficile-infection is the use of antimicrobial agents, which are themselves likely to suppress the normal intestinal microflora.
- Antibiotics used and the case incidence of hospital-acquired diarrhoea with positive toxin assays.
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