C Diff Spreading
Posted by Heather on December 6th, 2005 / Print This Post
C Diff is mutating; more and more people outside the medical halls are getting it.
A deadly bacterial illness commonly seen in people on antibiotics appears to be growing more common _ even in patients not taking such drugs, according to a report published Thursday in a federal health journal.And in a second article later by the New England Journal of Medicine, health officials said samples of the same bacteria taken from eight U.S. hospitals show it is mutating to become even more resistant to antibiotics.
“I don’t want to scare people away from using antibiotics. … But it’s concerning, and we need to respond,” said Dr. L. Clifford McDonald, an epidemiologist for the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who was an author on both articles.
“Hospitals need to be conducting surveillance and implementing control measures, McDonald said.
The bacteria is Clostridium difficile, also known as C-diff, and its symptoms include diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain, loss of appetite and nausea. The germ is becoming a regular menace in hospitals and nursing homes, and last year it was blamed for 100 deaths over 18 months at a hospital in Quebec, Canada.
Recent cases in four states show it is appearing more often in healthy people who have not been admitted to health-care facilities or even taken antibiotics, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“What exactly has made C-diff act up right now, we don’t know,” McDonald said.
C-diff is found in the colon and can cause diarrhea and a more serious intestinal condition known as colitis. It is spread by spores in feces. But the spores are difficult to kill with most conventional household cleaners. Even washing your hands with an antibacterial soap doesn’t eliminate all the germs.
C-diff has grown resistant to certain antibiotics that work against other colon bacteria. The result: When patients take those antibiotics, particularly clindamycin, competing bacteria die off and C-diff explodes.
The first article was published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. It focused on 33 cases reported since 2003.
Twenty-three involved otherwise healthy people in the Philadelphia area who were not admitted to a hospital within three months of illness. Ten more were otherwise healthy pregnant women or women who had recently given birth who had had brief hospital stays. Those reports came from Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey and New Hampshire.
One of the 33 patients died _ a 31-year-old Pennsylvania woman who was 14 weeks pregnant with twins when she first went to the emergency room with symptoms. Despite treatment with antibiotics considered effective against C-diff, she lost the fetuses and then died.
She had been treated about three months earlier for a urinary tract infection with an antibiotic, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Ten others among the 33 patients had taken clindamycin.
But in eight of the 33 cases, patients said they had not taken any antibiotics within three months of the onset of symptoms.
The second article, in the New England Journal of Medicine, looked at C-diff samples taken between 2000 and 2003 from eight hospitals Georgia, Illinois, Maine, New Jersey, Oregon and Pennsylvania.
The researchers found that a virulent strain of C-diff that was rarely seen before 2000 accounted for more than half of the samples. What’s more, that strain also seems to have built resistance to gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin, which are two of the newest in a class of antibiotics commonly used in hospitals.
The medical journal also reported on the occurrence of C-diff in 12 hospitals in Quebec where 1,703 patients had C-diff illnesses, and 422 died within 30 days of diagnosis.
Exposure to fluoroquinolones and other antibiotics was clearly a risk for patients, according to the Canadian researchers.
Doctors watching for C-diff in hospitals and nursing home patients need to look for it in other patients as well, McDonald said. Patients need to be wary too. “If you have severe diarrhea, seek attention from a physician,” he said.
UPDATE: Comments for this post are now closed. Please see these posts for accurate information about C Diff:
C Diff Resources I
C Diff Resources II
What is C Diff?
December 23rd, 2005 at 6:05 pm
I am a recent cna school graduate and am working in my local nursing home. We just got a resident with C-diff and have been told to always wear gowns, masks and gloves when changing the lady. Is this all the precautions that we need to take? Is this disease air-borne or fecal contact only? And just how contagious is it? We have a resident sharing a room with her and I am concerned for her as well.
Thanks.
December 23rd, 2005 at 11:15 pm
I also am a CNA, I worked in a facility where C-diff was very common. We were told that it was fecal matter contact that spreads it.
Gloves, gowns and masks were supplied, and placed just outside the door. There did not seem to be any concern for the resident who shared the room.(So, it is not likely that it is air-borne) There were however, containers, with red hazardous waste bags for the Attends, and a container for their laundry to be kept separate, in the bathrooms .
But, guess what? nurses, and some of the other aides did not use the gowns, or masks. (they did use gloves) To my knowledge, no one ever
contracted C-diff from this non-compliance with strict isolation rules. I used the gowns, ect, because I was afraid of getting the fecal matter on my uniform, then my hands, and might get infected.
My advice is: just always follow proper infection control procedures, of which HANDWASHING is the most important!! Good Luck!
January 9th, 2006 at 4:09 pm
1)what drug can be used to get c-diff out of the system?
2)can the patient ever be completely free of c-diff after treatment?
3)if the patient contracts any bacterial infection, what would be a safe treatement?
February 2nd, 2006 at 4:30 pm
My sister has just been diagnosed with C-Diff> She has had diarrhea for a year or so and has been in the hospital several times and this is the first diagnosis. They never seemed to know what it was. She is so weak now that she can’t lift her arms and legs. She is just laying there. What are the possiblilites of the phases she will go through. I know the outcome looks bad, but what are the phases that could happen. Please! Thank you, Judy Sims
February 16th, 2006 at 3:54 pm
Please send additional info on this
February 22nd, 2006 at 11:44 am
I deal with C-diff patients in the hospital on a regular basis (well not every day but its fairly common to see one or two)
We isolate the PT. At the very least it is a private room, never semi-private.
We have the isolation yellow cards on the doors and the isolation cart with gloves gowns masks etc available right outside the door.
Universal Precautions and Blood-Borne Pathogen (probably spelled that wrong) Precautions are standard for C-diff, MRSA and VRE in our hospital.
I work on the Cardiac floor so we do have more seniors than we do anyone else (just fyi)
February 25th, 2006 at 10:52 pm
Where I work we will allow two patients to share a room if they both have C Diff. I think it is very VERY important for nurses and aides to use precautions; to keep themselves protected because this is how this stuff spreads. Let’s be real. The patients don’t go around contaminating each other. We do. AND the housekeepers and anyone else who enters the rooms. GLOVES HANDWASHING GOWNS whatever it takes.
February 27th, 2006 at 2:13 pm
hh
February 27th, 2006 at 2:18 pm
Patients with C-diff should not be in the same room with another patient. The whole idea of isolation is what??? TO ISOLATE the patient, lol. C-diff requires contact isolation measures, gowns and gloves.
February 27th, 2006 at 2:25 pm
Judy sims……this is in reply to your post. It sounds like your sister has some more things going on with her than just c-diff. Diarrhea for that long is not necassirly c-diff. The best way to tell if it is c-diff is by the smell and c-diff will have a mucoid appearance to it. And c-diff should not make her that weak. I would get a few other opinions from different doctors. Although she may have c-diff, she may have some other things going on as well.
March 1st, 2006 at 11:25 am
Regarding the post by Cory on 2/27/2006. Actually the best — and ONLY to identify C-Diff is by culture. The fecal matter of other bowel conditions may have an odor and mucoid appearance, but NOT be C-Diff at all. Mucoid stools can also be associated wtih diarrhea prominent IBS or bacterial infection of the bowel, in which case the mucoid appearance may be due to sheets of WBCs being shed in the bowel. And, there are numerous other reasons. Hope this is helpful
March 3rd, 2006 at 9:45 pm
My mother has had recurring C-diff. She has been in and out of the hospital since November 2005. She is currently in a skilled care home. She does not appear to be getting better. She is currently on Vanco for a 14 day period. She also has a peg tube and the doctor feels the diarrhea may be from that. Please, we are desperate for answers. She doesn’t appear to be getting any better. She is 78 years old. Any information at all is greatly appreciated.
March 5th, 2006 at 10:52 pm
MY MOTHER JUST DIED SHE WAS 76. SHE ALSO HAD PEG TUBE AND DIARRHEA.
DO NOT ASUME THAT THE DIARRHEA IS FROM PEG TUBE. I WOULD SUGGEST YOU HAVE HER HOSPITALIZED BEFORE ORGANS START TO SHUT DOWN. NOT SURE IF CAN PREVENT HER DEATH AT THIS TIME BUT WORTH A TRY. I HAD MY MOTHER
SENT BUT TO LATE. HER HEART GAVE OUT TRYING TO SAVE ORGANS.
KATHY
March 7th, 2006 at 10:02 pm
I am a 27 year old female and I was recently diagnosed with C-Diff and I am not really sure where I contracted it. I was in hosptial in Aug/05 but no symptoms arose until Feb/06. I was on antibiotics for teeth (needed root canal) and then the diarhea started. I have already had 2 weeks of Vanco and then the symptoms came back. My doc has given me another 4 weeks now. Is there any chance of giving this to my family or co-workers who are very concerned? I am a Dental Assistant so I do wash my hands frequently and so do my co-workers.
March 8th, 2006 at 8:22 pm
C-Diff if treatable. The only sure-fire way to diagnose is through Endoscopy with biopsy. The usual treatment is Flagyll, “Vanco” is Vancomycin- not as effective. C-Diff is HIGHLY contaigous- in fact the bacteria can survive “routine” sanitizing practices. Yep- it has a pretty distinctive odor! Imagine the smell of rotting flesh combined with construction-site porta-potty….If you think that is GROSS, you should see what it looks like during the scoping procedure!
March 8th, 2006 at 8:32 pm
Oops! Almost forgot! PEG tubes don’t cause diarreah. The loose stools are caused by the formula that is used for tube feeding. You can always change formula and see what happens- but usually, loose stools are to be expected due to the additives that are needed for the formula to be “balanced” and “complete”
and additional calories, etc. Loose stools are one thing, true diarreah is constant, watery, resulting in weight loss.
March 8th, 2006 at 11:02 pm
Another quick question. I am currently trying to get pregnant. What are the risks to myself and/or baby if I do? Should I wait till everything is clear? I originally thought I was pregnant when I was diagnosed a couple of weeks ago but I wasn’t. The doctor said it should be ok because the bacteria basically lives in the bowel and also the Vanco stays in the bowel. How long can it take to get rid of C-diff
March 9th, 2006 at 11:02 am
Are you absolutly SURE that what you have is C-Diff? There are other conditions that cause similar symptoms. Colitis comes in many forms, and are treated differently. Celiac Sprue and/or Lactose Intolerance could also be culprits. Get a referal and go see a Gastroenteroligist. Treating a condition that doesn’t truly exist could be even more problematic.
March 9th, 2006 at 7:44 pm
I was always told if you take and antibiotic you should always take a table spoon of yougart to prevent c-diff.
March 9th, 2006 at 7:47 pm
please please anybdy taking antibiotics eat yougart i dont know why they dont tell people this but…… it is very important!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 16th, 2006 at 10:09 pm
I know that antibiotics can contribute to a lot of candida yeast being in your body… also, yogurt helps treat yeast infections… so it would make sense to eat yogurt and/or anything that helps restore proper yeast balance at anytime.
March 23rd, 2006 at 2:01 pm
A doctor had me using clindomycin wipes on my face for years, supposedly for rosaeca. It wasn’t rosaeca, but I ended up with C-diff. I went through hell, but got straightened out taking probiotics and now ingesting aloe. I don’t remember any “horrible” smell with the c-diff. Could I have tested positive w/o being positive? I heard the c-diff test is not alway accurate.
March 26th, 2006 at 8:19 pm
I know of someone who has their second occurance of C diff and works at a fast food location. Is this safe? She has just started treatment this weekend. Thank you.
March 26th, 2006 at 9:10 pm
My mom is bieng tested for c-diff on monday. So I was wondering if somebody could tell me if c-diff really is contagous! I have three small children in the home and three other adults. so what if any precautions should we be taking. she is having a colonoscipy (probally spelled wrong) to find out for sure if it is what will they do?????
March 27th, 2006 at 2:40 am
Hi, I am 22 and was on omnicef for a week. For the whole week and several days after I had diarrhea. I went to the doctor and had a cdiff stool test. It came back positive. Was it possible I already had Cdiff or could it have started the day I started the omnicef? Also, I am on Flagyl 1500mg a day now. How soon after I start the flagyl can I start sending in my stool for a negative result. I can’t go back to work until I have 3 negative stools. Please let me know. thanks
April 1st, 2006 at 8:25 pm
I recently experienced C-Diff after being on antibiotics for bronchitis and a sinus infection. After being on Flagyl I thought I would be “well”, and I was for awhile. Recently I have been experiencing some nausea, cramping, fatigue and diarrhea. Not as bad as I experienced when I was diagnosed with C-Diff, but certainly not normal. I am an RN so I have put off going to the doctor because I thought “this just takes time” and I’m taking good care of myself and eating alot of yogurt! I do have a doctor’s appointment for next week but I probably wouldn’t have made that appointment had I not seen this article.
April 3rd, 2006 at 4:59 pm
My mother had a fall, was hospitalized at Lake Wales Medical Center in Fla. Told broken hip, no fact to that, she was admitted to Winter Haven Hospital for blood clots on lung–not tue. She was admitted to Spring Lake Nursing Home , experienced blood clots in both legs and was also diagnosed with C.diff. The Home failed to notify me that she had C.diff. Back in WHHospital, she had a stroke, readmitted. C.diff was diagnosed too for real.
What should we as a family do to prevent being infected while visiting in the hospital? Mom is 82, she had been active even until she fell in March.
Help!!!!!!!!!! We need to know what to do.
David Clemons in Lake Wales, Florida
April 11th, 2006 at 2:36 am
I had a close friend who had been diagnosed with C Diff about 2 weeks ago. She was admitted into the hospital on a Sunday and on Tuesday or Wednesday she had to be rushed into surgery because her colon had burst. They had her on a breathing machine, she couldn’t talk but she could hear you. That Friday her lungs collapsed and her kidneys stopped working. They didn’t even know if she had any brain activity so she couldn’t hear you anymore. The next day, Saturday, around 8:30 A.M. she passed away. We will miss her dearly.
If you think you have symptoms don’t procrastinate to see a doctor, it may be too late like it was with my dear friend. She was only 43 when she passed away. She had been sick for a couple weeks before knowing what it was. So if you think you have it, don’t delay, find out from a doctor today.
April 14th, 2006 at 12:32 am
My Father 88 is in a nursing home and has C Diff. One of the google sites said the spores of C Diff can live in the dirt for 2 years. Can a dog get c-diff, defecate in the dirt go out walk in the same dirt carry the spore in with him. Have an elderly man pet him, rubber noses with him and then go eat dinner and get it? I know it is far fetched but I think it could be a possabilty.
April 20th, 2006 at 2:02 pm
Hello. I am 23 years old and am currently in the Air Force. I was over in Iraq Sept05-Jan06 and started having diarrhea pretty badly. I didn’t think anything of it. I associated it with stress, the heat, the non-potable water, and the different foods. In January I went to the ER because of severe stomach pain, and blood in my stool. They sent me to Germany, thinking my gallbladder was bad. Test after test, scope after scope, nothing came back positive. In March, I saw a new doctor. He wanted a stool sample, and guess what? It came back positive for C-Diff. He put me on Flagyll 3x a day for 10 days. I took it RELIGIOUSLY, but still have the same exact symptoms. I went back to him yesterday, and did another stool sample. This test came back with a Critical level of C-Diff vs. my initial test where it was High. I am very nervous now. I am not sure what is going on inside of my body, but I know it is not good. Just since January, I have lost OVER 20 lbs, have no appetite, and EVERYTIME I eat, no more than 30 minutes later, I am using the bathroom. To be honest, I am scared right about now. I’m curious to know what long term exposure to C-diff can/will do to my body. I have read that people have been hospitalized for having C-diff, but I haven’t been. SHOULD I be in the hospital? I also have read where people have DIED from having C-diff. What do I need to do, to look out for myself, since no one else seems to be too worried about it?
Please, any help, any words of encouragement, anything, will be so greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your time!
April 24th, 2006 at 10:07 pm
Just FYI, C-diff is a normal flora bacteria that all ready lives in the intestinal track of everyone. When you are taking antibiotics for other reasons, those antibiotics like to kill off all the “good” bacteria that typically “eat-up” the bad bacteria like c-diff. Then the c-diff begins to multiply and you end up with diarrhea and other symptoms such as dehydration and fever. The spores from c-diff infected people can then be deposited on surfaces such as hands, beds, tables, medical equipement, toilets…you get the idea. If people put their hands in their mouths (eating, smoking, nail-biting)they then can ingest new c-diff into their own body and run the risk of c-diff multiplying and causing symptoms. The way to diagnose c-diff is through lab cultures from stool samples. The best prevention is strict handwashing with soap (alcohol products do NOT removes the spores) and avoiding un-needed antibiotic use. Health care workers gown and glove to avoid spreading the spores from one sick patient to another. First line treatment for postive patients is Flagyl.
April 24th, 2006 at 10:34 pm
IF you or a family member has been dianosed with c-diff you must be treated by a doctor with either Flagyl (an anti-infective—not the same as antibiotic) or Vancomicin. The reason most people are hospitalized with c-diff is because they need to be re-hydrated withIV fluids and sometimes electrolyte and vitamin/mineral supplements. The deaths that you are hearing about usually occur in the elderly (because their immune system is not as strong and/or they have other health problems). If un-treated an otherwise healthy person could die but it is usually because of severe dehydration that begins to weaken other body systems. Usually people with c-diff are isolated from others for about a week while first begining Flagyl therapy and that is because their stools are still watery and the risk of spore transmission is possibly increased. IF you are an otherwise healthy person and you are taking an anti-infective you can be treated at home. Just keep your toilets clean and wash your hands after using the toilets, wash before eating, wash between tasks, wash before preparing food, just wash, wash, wash.
April 25th, 2006 at 1:08 pm
SaraBSN summed it up very well, Meri. I lost 15 pounds with c-diff. I have gained it back after two years of living in hell. One doctor told me that “unfortunately, you are never the same after c-diff.” Another doctor disputes that, but my body agrees with the first doctor. It’s hard living a normal life when you are a prisoner to your home because of your bowels. And people just don’t understand it’s different and more severe than normal diahrrea.
April 26th, 2006 at 8:30 am
I’m 70 and still working to support myself and disabled husband. I read a few of these letters-some in despair, some in desperation and I’m hoping my experience with C-diff will help someone. I lost over 25 pounds during this illness:
11-10-05, my dentist prescribed Clindamycin for pre-root canal. Only a few days later I began diarrea, fever and pain so I stopped it and called my family doctor(11/16) who prescribed Levaquin, 500mg. A few days after finishing the rx, sick again. Fam. Dr. required stool sample, and prescribed Flagle, 500 mg. Stool showed no micro-organisms.(11/26) Again, sick. Again, Fam. Dr. prescribed Flagle(12/9). On 12/22, even more sick, Fam. Dr. refilled Flagle. On 12/30 Fam Dr. prescribed Teqin, 400 mg., and recommended that I see Gastrointerologist. By that time I had been bleeding off and on and fever most of the time. On 1/4, GI prescribed Vancocin, 250 mg. after exam showed a lot of infection. 1/23, GI prescribed Xifaxan, 200 mg., scheduled CT’s and refilled Xifaxan on 1/25. Colonoscopy in Feb. showed the C-diff had left me with colitis. Biopsies earlier had shown definite C-diff, which seemed to clear up after the last Xifaxan. Follow-up visit after colonoscopy revealed the type of colitis is a hard one to treat. Prescribed Colazal, 750 mg. 3, 3 times a day. Next visit he was so glad to see the Colazal was working for me. Gave me a six-mo. Rx and changed dose to 2, twice a day. I’ve been diaper-free for 1 month! I drink lots of water, no carbonated drinks, keep my fat intake about 30 grams a day, very little red meat, no fried foods. No milk or ice cream.
I told my dentist about Clindamycin, but he said he will continue giving it because it’s so good especially for heart patients, and that he hasn’t had any complaints before.
April 26th, 2006 at 12:44 pm
Hi Nancy –
What is Colazal? I’m assuming it’s not an antibiotic.
I’m supposed to be pre-medicated for any denistry and when I go there and they ask me if I took my meds, I lie and say, “yes.” I don’t need anymore c-diff. I contracted c-diff from Clindamycin wipes for my face.
April 26th, 2006 at 2:55 pm
ELLIE:
COLAZAL ® (balsalazide disodium) Capsules (kôl a zal) DESCRIPTION: Each COLAZAL capsule contains 750 mg of balsalazide disodium, a prodrug that is enzymatically cleaved in the colon
My C&R dr. said they usually prescribe this for ulcerated colitis (which I don’t have). He wanted to try it on me before sending me to another dr. for possible steroids as last resort.
April 27th, 2006 at 12:01 pm
Great information! Thank you so much! I have been so stressed out and worried lately, I think I am making myself worst. But I am taking it one day at a time. I have to wait until the end of next month before I am able to see the GI doctor, but I am very optimistic, that he will cure me!
April 27th, 2006 at 2:43 pm
To Merri: Flagyl was only a temporary help for me. Remember that in my case, the Xifaxin is what cured the C-diff. Was so grateful my dr. said to help the colon stop the spasms, to only take one ounce of water every 15 mins. for a couple of hrs, then small am’ts of liquid jello, juices (I found white grape juice THE best), broth, popsicles, etc. so long as they were light in color and NOT RED, for 24 hrs. After that I only ate soft foods – mashed potatoes, cream of wheat, scrambles egg.
I’ll pray for you. You have a real good attitude, and I know you will be fine. Thanks for serving our great country.
April 29th, 2006 at 12:42 pm
My mother recently died. The cause of death was from C Diff Colitis. She first got C Diff in the nursing home she was because of being on an antibiotic. After about 2 weeks we thought she was getting better because she was up in her wheelchair stolling down the halls, in PT walking, pretty much back to her normal self. Then all of a sudden she got C Diff back. This time resulting in being hospitalized and then 1 week later died.
She shared a room with 3 other roommates the whole time she had C Diff. She was never in isolation, which I can not believe they did not put her there. The other thing is her 1 roommate also got the C Diff when my mother got it back. She was very close to this roommate and spent alot of time with her. Her roommate was never on antibiotics so I believe that this roommate got the C Diff from my mother. Which I believe this is from neglect from the nursing home. The roommate is doing well, I just went to visit her. But my mother is dead because of C Diff.
April 30th, 2006 at 11:18 pm
My mom is 80 years old. She has suffered with diarrhea since having her gall bladder out 20 years ago. She also has low grade lymphoma and vasculitis. In Feb. she developed an infection at the sight of a leg biopsy and was given an antibiotic. Within a week her diarrhea had worsen and we were told she had now developed a c-diff infection. Since then she has been hospitalized 4 times. She is getting worse and worse. The doctors gave her Sandoz Statin in hopes that would stop the diarrhea but it didnot. We don’t know what to do to help her. Has anyone had a similar experience? Can anyone offer any helpor advice. It would be greatly appreciated as we are losing all hope.
May 1st, 2006 at 1:36 am
hi i work in a care and rehabilitation center all the patients are 50 and over i have read the care plan book where a few of them has c-diff and we were never told to use isolation precaution ,now i have read this and it makes me mad why would they put us at risk?thank you so much now i am going to take extreme precaution
May 5th, 2006 at 2:00 am
My mother (82) was hopitalized to have a fistula and permacath put in for access for dialysis. She has some minor complications due to INR levels and was in for 5 days. She was about to go home and looked great after just a few runs of dialysis, better than she had in months. We went the next day to see her and she was in insolation due to C-diff. She had been up all the previous night with diarrhea. Her health has been failing since. The diarrhea has stopped (she just had it the one night) but now she has severe constipation and has not had a bowel movement in 7 days. They keep telling me they are giving me everything they can so that she can go to the bathroom. We don’t even know if she still has the c-diff. Is constipation a side effect of c-diff treatment?? She looks about 6 months pregnant due to bloating. Also most of my family members have had upset bowels starting the same day as my mother. I have told the staff at the hospital but they don’t appear concerned. My mother will be coming home with us to live, if we have it can we re-infect her. Should be demand to be tested???
May 8th, 2006 at 1:33 pm
Ellen, wow I would jerk her out of that place so fast you couldn’t blink your eyes if she has not had a BM in 7 days that is not good and they need to give her an enema or milk of magnesia or a sapository, this is neglect if they are not doing something. If she had c-dif, they would had to have tested that to tell you if it was. I am cannnot believe this, yes I would have them give her something if she hasn’t had a BM anything over 3 days is bad it makes you septic and can actually be deadly if it doesn’t clear out.
May 8th, 2006 at 7:22 pm
My mom is 83 and currently in the CCU of the hospital. She used to be in a “skilled nursing home.” About three weeks ago she had diarrhea and it was treated. She was tested for C DIFF after treatment and none was found. A week latter she was admitted to the hospital. Her heartbeat was rapid, her blood pressure low, and her urine was very chalky. In 24 hours she was no longer able to tell where she was, the date, and her name.
The hospital found that her intestine was impacted, and they gave her an enema. Her kidneys were flushed. They stopped producing urine. Tomorrow we plan to put a tube into one of her kidneys so that it can drain. We’re using medicine to increase her blood pressure (which is very low) and it’s currently around 93/45. I’m very afraid that I’ve made decisions good enough for her to live, but she’ll need dialysis for the rest of her life.
I now wish I had not decided on the tube. While she would likely have died without it I now feel the outcome could be much worse. She may still not survive this process, and it’s possible that she may recover well. While this process is going on I swing back and forth on my decisions.
May 12th, 2006 at 12:00 am
My Mom 84 passed away last month after fighting off infection after infection in the hospital for 8 weeks. She was diagnosed with c-diff the first day. She lived in a nursing home for 5 years and was very strong never getting sick. They sent her to the hospital because of diarrhea and loss of appetite She was impacted with a distended colon.
She on Vanco for 30 days.Then on and off that and Peramicm 3 ?
She ended up in the ICU with septic shock on a vent machine for 11 days. She recovered eating 90% but then got sick again.This happened 3 to 4 times. The staff at the hospital kept saying “that’s what happens when you stay in the hospital too long” She spent 56 days in the hospital in 6 different rooms.
I don’t buy the “It was her time to go bit” I believe she died because she got sick not that she was sick because she was dieing.
May 15th, 2006 at 7:48 pm
Hi Nancy,
My name is Patti Tracewell. In march I got c-diff. I was in the hospital for 6 days. They gave me flagel and liquid vancocin, while an IV was keeping me from dehydrating.
Went home on flage and pill form of vanconin. then they slowly took me off the vancocin. 1 week from the day i stopped the med. it started again. not full blown, but, the cramping and loose bowels. you know it when it returns.
again I am on vancocin and I had xifaxan. I once again an going off the vancocin. I am really nervous about it coming back. i still have cramps and gas.
I eat rice, mash potatoes with soy milk, oat meal cereal with water, apple sauce, all soft things. my Dr. tells mne to start eating, but it hurts. I sometimes think i am the only one dealing with this. I need help.
What is this colazal? the DR. I have is a infectious diease Dr. He said the only cure is to find a combination of med.s that will get rid of it. I must have a good case of it.
I lost 15 lbs. and at a stand still. what to do.???? If you have any advice, I would love to hear it. thank you,
Patti
May 16th, 2006 at 1:16 pm
Patti,
It’s an anti inflammatory med. my doctor prescribed when he determined the c-diff had left me with colitis. He said Colanax is usually prescribed for ulcerated colitis but while I don’t have that kind, he wanted to try it before sending me to a GI to try steroids. He said that would be the last resort.
I ate a lot of chicken noodle soup. I boiled chicken breast, ground it in food processor with boiled eggs & mayo – ate that with crackers and/or bread. I still can’t tolerate much meat at a time. No raw fruit or vegetables.
You may also have colitis, which is inflammation. Might want to ask your dr. about colanax. I’ve lost 30 lbs.
Nancy
May 16th, 2006 at 1:19 pm
I read all the comments with great concern. A friend of mine had the gastric bypass surgery in April. After 2 days at home, she was taken back to the hospital because of diarrhea and weakness, she couldn’t get any food or drink to go down and couldn’t stop the diarrhea. Dr. said she had an infection and Flagyl was given to her. She returned home and seemed to have a few good days, but then the symptoms returned. She continued to get weaker, had a high temp, could not eat,and diarrhea like you would not believe!!! S0—back to the hospital, this time in critical condition for 5 days. Then she became strong enough to return home after 9 days in hospital.. Now, she is on some antibiotic, I don’t know what, and is at home. I pray this will help her and she can continue to recuperate. The problem, now, is with myself. Since reading this website, after it was mentioned to me by a friend, I am sure that I should not be visiting her for a very long time!!! The reason being that I have a very serious and rare blood disease. I have been treated with an immunotherapy drug and my WBC is very low, as well as the stress underwhich my immune system has been, I wonder if I should even be in her company for the time being? All of my friends are very concerned about both of us!!!
May 19th, 2006 at 7:40 am
If you suspect you may have c-diff, would it be smart to try a acidophilus supplement to restore balance of the bacteria?
May 21st, 2006 at 2:16 pm
My father-in-law is about 74 years old. He was admitted to the hospital about 10 days ago. The reason was sever dehydration. He has a rare blood disease which affects his blood platelet blood count, he takes Interfiron for that. Few weeks before being hospitalize, he had kindey stones and was given strong pain killers to take care of the sever pain that he was experiencing. Docs thought that he was paasing the kindney stones. However he was so sleepy that he did not eat or drink for 5-7 days. Now he is the ICU, he is on a ventilator his blood pressure is low, his heart is week and his kindey is shut down, he is on dialises. He was admitted to the ICU after a Stens were placed in his utherals and a kindey stone was removed. He started experiencing diarrhea since the first day he was in the Hospital. No one paid attention. Now, he is so week and his alway sidated . Today, he was diagnosed with C-diff, after reading these reports, I am very concerned and alarmed about his ability to fight this disease in addition to his other weeknesses. Please let me know if there is a definite treatment for C-DIFF. His body can’t take anymore of the doctor’s guess work.
Please pray for him as I will pray for all of you.
May 21st, 2006 at 6:25 pm
Ben,
Here’s hoping that your father-in-law is in good hands. My husband had C-diff twenty years ago and miraculously survived it, which took many,many months. He took Vancomycin for a very long time. He has had no ill effects since then.
However, my friend has it now as the result of the antibiotics given when she had gastric by-pass surgery. She was in ICU for 5 days and now is home, but recovery is very slow. It is very contagious so take precautions!!!
May 29th, 2006 at 1:36 am
In responce to post 4 and 10
My father just passed away from c-diff on 5/18/2006
shortly before his death he too experienced extreme weakness he couldnt lift his arms or even get himself out of bed
he was in the hospital the last time for only 4 days he went in on Sunday with severe diarrhea we insisted he be tested for c-diff for some reason he wasnt treated until tues eve. by that time it was too late unbeknown to us wed. morning his WBC was 25000 my sister and I found out his wbc was 30500 early thurs morning we insisted he be moved to icu this was 5am at 7 am the drs were telling us he had a 90% chance of living within an hour they had him on a ventalator
things continued to worsen it was too late to treat him he was in septic shock his blood pressure bottomed out
at 5pm the drs told us he had no chance his heart had already stopped 3 times and there was nothing else they could do he passed away at 6:10 p
if you think you or someone you love has c-diff PLEASE stay ontop of it ask questions and make the drs pay attention this isnt something to mess around with its so serious
May 30th, 2006 at 4:53 pm
My mother died on May 17 from C-diff. She was 87 and up until recently had been totally independent and in good health.
About two months ago she broke her rib; after the hospital, she spent three weeks in a rehab/skilled nursing center near her home in New Jersey. The Sunday before Mother’s Day, she came to stay with me in Philadelphia while she regained her muscle strength and mobility. She was fine on the trip, slept reasonably well, and had breakfast Monday morning. She started getting some intenstinal cramps, which by the afternoon had escalated into severe pain. We rushed her to PennPresbyterian Hospital where they diagnosed that she had C-diff. She didn’t have the usual symptom of diarrhea perhaps because she had gotten dehydrated in the center as well, and because the infection might have initially isolated itself in one of the pockets of her intenstine (she had diverticulosis).
The ten days she was in the hospital were awful. C-diff is an especially mean bacterium and she, apparently, picked up the new, virulent strain of it (see the Centers for Disease Control’s website ). She was in terrible pain, depite huge doses of morphine. They pumped her full of Flagyl and Vancomycin but to no avail . . . it spread like crazy. By the last day, the infection had gotten into her blood.
Even the doctors and nurses were feeling powerless in the face of this infection. But I cannot praise them highly enough and I couldn’t have gotten through it all without them.
They think that she probably picked up the C-diff in the rehab center. All the rooms in this center are doubles sharing a toilet with the adjoining room (i.e. four patients per bathroom). This sounds like a prescription for rampant spread of this disease. It was most likely triggered after her doctor had prescribed Zithromax because of the risk of pneumonia (the rehab center was not doing much “rehab” — she was left in bed for three weeks and had started developing congestion due to inactivity . . . )
May 31st, 2006 at 2:00 am
Does everybody realize a common thing they keep mentioning when they state they got C-diff?? it started in your system from taking an antibiotic. Read online in medical journals and they will tell you the cause is usually from antibiotics we take. (sure it can be contracted from another and cautions have to be followed through) Don’t we realize what our bodies are going through now a days -we are having several problems because of the immunities we have built up against antibiotics – MRSA is a big problem and can be very difficult to get rid of and trying to find the right antibioties.
May 31st, 2006 at 7:20 am
RE: Comment by Christine (cna)
I am SURE I am understanding this C- diff thing correctly. and you dont GET THE C_DIFF TOXIN by taking the antibotic. You contract the virus or toxin in hospitals or from other people by contacting it with your hands or something and then by mouth. when you take an antibotic or even a medicine that kills lots of stomach acid that normally keeps c-diff under control it allows it to begin growing. the bad bacteria takes over in my fathers case(he died may 18 of c-diff this year) he had such a severe case his bowels totally stopped becaused they were too infected and inflamed to go on. The drs. told us he had a severe case that wasnt responding to the medication once it gets to the point the bowels stop working its VERY hard to treat because the way its treated is by the meds passing through the bowels.His WBC went from 8500 to 35000 in just 3 days. we all could have the toxin in us right now but our body could be keeping it in check.
May 31st, 2006 at 11:02 am
In response to Christine and Charlotte:
(Charlotte, our parents died one day apart from each other . . . I’m so sorry.)
This is how I understand C-Diff infections from the doctors and nurses who cared for my mother.
First, Clostridium Difficile is a bacterium, not a virus. A good number of us might already have a strain of it in our intenstines, but there are new, deadly strains that are developing. You CAN pick up the bacterium, expecially in its new virulent form, which is why gowns, gloves and rigorous handwashing are recommended when interacting with patients who have been diagnosed with an infection. The C-Diff spores can live for a long time on various surfaces, and the Centers for Disease Control recommend cleaning with diluted bleach in order to kill them. You do NOT contract the toxins.
Second, a C-Diff INFECTION can be set off by taking certain antibiotics, which, by killing beneficial bacteria in the intestines, upsets the natural floral balance, allowing the C-Diff to multiply out of control. As the bacteria reach critical mass, the two toxins they emit begin to attack the cells of the colon. So the C-Diff bacterium itself doesn’t start in one’s system from taking antibiotics but a C-Diff infection can start after taking antibiotics.
The less virulent strains of C-Diff are able to be combatted with antibiotics like Flagyl or Vancomycin; the more virulent strains, unfortunately, do not respond as well. Age, the overall health of the person, and how soon the infection is diagnosed all play a part in whether someone can survive this disease.
Is this correct? Could a health care professional weigh in and comment?
May 31st, 2006 at 2:53 pm
that is how I understand it too
I may not use the exact correct terms but my understanding is the same
i dont know but in my fathers case I believe there was some neglance on the hospitals part
he was treated while in the hospital in may for c- diff for 4 days from the 4/27 – 5/1 for some reason the did not send him home on any meds for this he was home until the 14 of course at this point it was already getting bad we thought he had a bad virus we took him in and he was rediagonosed with c-diff on the 14 he was not treated until early morning of the 17 by that time his white blood count went up drastically i suspect this was the point his bowles stopped working he was left in a regular ward until we threatened to move him to another hospital finally the dr agreeded to move him to ccu while saying he wasnt bad enough to move
he lived aprox. 12 hours after that he declined so quickly.
my father wasnt treated steady not even for ten days so to say his was a resistant strain i think is far fetched because he wasnt treated correctly until it was too late
May 31st, 2006 at 9:18 pm
My mother died from c-diff too! February 23, 2005. I also think that she contacted it from the Rehab. she was in. She broke her hip. Other that that, she was fine. I miss her so much. She was 75.