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Clostridium Difficle Treatment

Clostridium difficile, sometimes abbreviated to C. difficile or the C. diff., is a bacterium that affects the gastrointestinal system. C. difficile bacteria normally live in your body, but their growth can be spurred by the use of antibiotics that kill the "good" bacteria that keep C. difficile in check. It is particularly common in hospitals, and can be spread via contact with fecal matter. Several methods of treatment exist, from medications to surgery.

  1. Symptoms

    • Symptoms are primarily gastrointestinal in nature, and the severity can vary. Most cases have frequent, watery diarrhea and abdominal pain and cramping. More severe cases can result in an inflamed colon, which can in turn result in more serious symptoms such as excessive and watery diarrhea, blood and pus in the stool, and flu-like symptoms such as fever, nausea, and a loss of appetite.

    Initial Treatment

    • Initial treatment involves immediately discontinuing the antibiotics suspected of causing the infections. These include penicillins, cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones and clindamycin. The next line of treatment is a different form of antibiotics, such as metronidazole for mild and moderate symptoms, and vancomycin for more severe symptoms. They prevent the growth of the bacterium in the stomach, allowing the "good" bacteria to thrive once again.

      Your doctor will monitor your progress and symptoms, as well as any possible side effects from the medication, such as nausea and a bad, bitter taste in your mouth. As with most antibiotics, you should not drink alcohol while taking any of these medications.

    Probiotics

    • Alternative treatments used to treat recurring C. difficile include probiotics. A probiotic is bacteria or yeast, such as Saccharomyces boulardii, that helps the intestinal tract become healthy again. A study published in the June 1989 issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology showed the combination of Saccharomyces boulardii and vancomycin to be an effective method of treatment against recurring C. difficile. Another study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1994, confirmed that this combination was safe and effective.

    Surgery

    • In the event the infection becomes severe and results in organ damage or extreme pain not quelled by medication, surgery may be required to remove the part of the colon that's infected.

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