Understanding a C Diff Infection: Bacteria and Your Belly

The intestines play an important role in digestion

. They also help in supporting the immune system. The intestines absorb essential nutrients that are important for growth and development. Hence, keeping your intestines healthy is crucial for overall health and vivacity. To do that, it's important to keep a balance of bacteria in your intestines. You may think that all bacteria may cause illness thus keeping your intestines free of bacteria is good. On the contrary killing the bacteria in your gut may lead to more dangerous and difficult health problems such as a C diff infection.

So what is C diff infection? C diff, short for Clostridium difficile, is a type of bacteria that causes inflammation to the colon. This infection is often caused by the overuse of antibiotics. Antibiotics are drugs that are used to kill bacteria and fight off infection but in the process of doing so, antibiotics also kill the good bacteria. This gives some opportunistic bacteria, like C diff, a chance to colonize and overgrow inside the intestines. A C diff infection is often characterized by the release of toxins that make the lining of the intestines inflamed.

How do you get a C diff Infection?

There are two stages that you must undergo before you get infected by C-diff. The first phase includes the ingestion of C diff spores found on the surfaces of the environment. These spores are from feces of people infected with the disease. The spores are one way C diff bacteria use to extend their life. These bacteria are transmitted via fecal-oral route, thus, washing hands after using the bathroom is very important. The next phase occurs when the normal balance of bacteria in the intestines is disturbed. This will give a leeway for the C diff bacteria to colonize and overgrow.

What are the Symptoms that Accompanies a C diff Infection?

A person with a C-diff infection may experience bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever. If left unattended, symptoms may worsen and lead to pseudo membranous colitis, toxic megacolon, perforations and sepsis. Some cases could even lead to death. If you experience the common symptoms, it is best to see your doctor for proper diagnosis. Lab works may include WBC count, colonoscopy, fecalysis and or sigmoidoscopy.

How to Prevent and Treat C-diff?

To avoid this infection and related symptoms, it's best to know how to prevent it. Observing proper hygiene especially hand washing is one of the key methods in preventing this type of infection. Choosing the right soap for hand washing is also important to ensure that you are adequately protected. The FDA has concerns about antibacterial soaps promoting antibiotic resistance, so stick with natural warm soapy water to wash hands with. Improper food handling is another way to prevent the spread of C diff. It is also advisable to limit antibiotic use such as penicillins, clindamycins florquinolones and cephalosporins. If a C diff infection is not avoided, conservative treatments are first utilized. Dehydration due to diarrhea is treated by correcting fluid and electrolyte balance. This can be done by intravenous fluid replacement in more severe cases, drinking plenty of water and eating starchy food to restore homeostasis. The antibiotic that caused the infection is usually stopped. If conservative measures fail, doctors may resort to flagyl or vancomycin for C-diff treatment.

Understanding a C Diff Infection: Bacteria and Your Belly

By: Michelle Moore

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