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What Is C-Diff?

The human intestines contain normal flora, which are beneficial to human digestion. However, when most of their normal flora are eliminated, people with Clostridium difficile bacteria develop a condition known as pseudomembranous colitis, which is marked by intestinal distress and diarrhea. The use of antibiotics and being hospitalized while on antibiotics have been associated with the disease.

  1. Clostridium difficile

    • Clostridium difficile, or C. diff, is a species of bacteria that are found in the intestines of certain people. Normally, C. diff bacteria do not cause disease in the people who have the bacteria in their intestines. However, when a person with C. diff takes certain antibiotics, the other bacteria in their intestines are killed, leaving C. diff to grow and multiply. It is then that C. diff causes disease.

    C. diff Colitis

    • Like other bacteria in the Clostridium species, C. diff release a potent toxin that acts on the large intestines' ability to regulate water and salt absorption. When C. diff becomes the predominant strain in the intestines, they release the toxin. Colitis, or inflammation of the colon, results, causing abdominal pain, abdominal cramps, diarrhea and a fever.

    Nosocomial C. diff

    • According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people who are hospitalized are at special risk for developing C. diff infection and subsequent colitis. This is because hospitalized patients are more likely to be receiving antibiotic therapy that eliminates their intestinal flora except for C. diff. Also, more people who get sick with colitis tend to be hospitalized. If a breakdown in hygiene occurs at the hospital, the infection will spread to very susceptible people.

    Community Acquired C. diff

    • More recently, according to CDC, people outside the hospital have been coming down with C. diff colitis. This is suspected to be due to widespread outpatient antibiotic use. Recent evidence from observed cases of community acquired colitis in the United Kingdom points to the possible association between antacids and C. diff infection. This is probably due to the survival of C. diff spores in the stomach when no acid is available to destroy them.

    Prevention/Solution

    • In the hospital setting, surfaces and other contaminated items must be thoroughly cleaned. Hospital staff and patients are encouraged to properly wash their hands often. To prevent infection in the first place, providers are encouraged to limit the prophylactic, anticipatory, use of antibiotics. There is also some evidence that the use of probiotic foods helps prevent colitis, since probiotics contain good bacteria to recolonize the intestines after the use of antibiotics.

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