C Diff Resources 1
Posted by Patti on May 18th, 2006 / 
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I have seen a lot of comments here about C Diff…so I did some research and here are some good sites and information.
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET
NAME: Clostridium difficileSYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: N/A
CHARACTERISTICS: Gram positive rod, anaerobic, motile, subterminal spores, produces a cytotoxin and enterotoxin
SECTION II – HEALTH HAZARD
PATHOGENICITY: Opportunistic pathogen, broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy eliminates competing gut flora, allowing the overgrowth of C. difficile; important cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis; diarrhea in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy; symptoms range from mild diarrhea to severe colitis (possibly fatal)
EPIDEMIOLOGY: Worldwide; 2-3% of adults are asymptomatic carriers ; 50% of healthy neonates (<1 year old) are carriers; nosocomial transmission increasingly important
HOST RANGE: Humans and other animals
INFECTIOUS DOSE: Not known
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Fecal-oral contact; evidence for transmission via fomites and hands exists
INCUBATION PERIOD: Not known
COMMUNICABILITY: May be transmitted from person to person
SECTION III – DISSEMINATION
RESERVOIR: Soil, water, hay, sand; intestinal tract of humans and other animals
ZOONOSIS: None
VECTORS: None
SECTION IV – VIABILITY
DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Susceptible to metronidazole and vancomycin
DRUG RESISTANCE: Metronidazole and vancomycin-resistant strains have been reported
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Spores are fairly resistant; moderate susceptibility to 1% sodium hypochlorite; susceptible to high level disinfectants (>2% glutaraldehyde) with prolonged contact time
PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Spores are fairly resistant to heat (spores destroyed by moist heat – 121°C for at least 15 min)
SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Spores can survive for long periods outside of host
SECTION V – MEDICAL
SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms; recovery of C. difficile organisms and/or toxin from stool samples
FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Antibiotic therapy should be stopped; oral therapy with metronidazole or vancomycin
IMMUNIZATION: None
PROPHYLAXIS: None
SECTION VI – LABORATORY HAZARDS
LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: 1 reported case of a laboratory-acquired infection from C. difficile
SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Clinical specimens – feces
PRIMARY HAZARDS: Injuries from contaminated sharp instruments
SPECIAL HAZARDS: Not known
SECTION VII – RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS
CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices, containment equipment and facilities for activities involving clinical specimens and cultures
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves when direct contact with infectious materials is unavoidable
OTHER PRECAUTIONS: None
SECTION VIII – HANDLING INFORMATION
SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wear protective clothing; gently cover spill with paper towels and apply a suitable disinfectant (high level or 1% sodium hypochlorite), starting at perimeter and working towards the centre; allow sufficient contact time before clean up
DISPOSAL: Decontaminate before disposal; steam sterilization, chemical disinfection, incineration
STORAGE: In sealed containers that are appropriately labelled
SECTION IX – MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
Date prepared: January 2000
Prepared by: Office of Laboratory Security, PHAC
Although the information, opinions and recommendations contained in this Material Safety Data Sheet are compiled from sources believed to be reliable, we accept no responsibility for the accuracy, sufficiency, or reliability or for any loss or injury resulting from the use of the information. Newly discovered hazards are frequent and this information may not be completely up to date.
July 21st, 2006 at 11:46 pm
been sick and in hospital 1 week with diarrhea, NV, etc. totally bloody stools x 3 days. treated with Leavquin and Flagyl. 2 cat scans, unknown results, sucky ucky hospital. been home 2 days and now its back full force. (no blood yet) would not give dx to me or to my primary care doctor. I have 3 dogs-any connection. Am very weak, dehydrated again, unable to eat. nothing to eat or drink 1st two days at home, hospitalized, ivs, clear liquids, but ate only 4 popsicles, taken off ivs, sent home . Should I be getting more worried than I am. DR. said not enuf stool sample to culture.
August 12th, 2006 at 2:24 pm
I was helping another one of me co-workers. I was changing a wound and emptying a rectal foley bag when stool splashed in my eye. I found out later the patient tested positive for c -diff. My doctor gave me Blephamide eye drops and wants to see me again in a week. I am nervous because c-diff is running rampant.Please give me some advice on what else i can do.
August 13th, 2006 at 12:16 am
been on the antibiodic treatment for C Diff for 6 days. the diareah is back. i ws told to stop om nexium because it inter feres with the action of this antibiotic. i feel like crap. i need to know who long it will be before i’m over this. i can barely take it. when these intibiotics are finished i’ll have been one that type of med for 37 days. i’m going to buy somne bananas . ano other suggestions? anyone out there had this and been cured? post a reply please……thanks
August 16th, 2006 at 9:39 pm
Re: C Diff relief. Try replenishing your natural bacteria with a pro-biotic, multi-herbal product, or brewer’s yeast. The idea is to build the bacterias to where their natural balance was before the antibiotics.
August 18th, 2006 at 11:51 pm
can c.diff spread to other organs??
August 19th, 2006 at 3:02 pm
A co-worker and I were just wondering how long after coming in contact with c-diff can you experience symptoms? The situation is that all last week we were caring for pt’s that were having serious bowel problems, and it turned out that one pt was positive for c-diff. We then went on our days off, then on our last day off (which was 3 days) we both started to get diarrhea and stomach cramping. Is it possible that we have c-diff right now, even though we have been away from work for 3 days???
August 21st, 2006 at 12:21 am
I am struggling with c.diff. I have been sick for weeks,been in and out of the hospital time after time.I did not realize how dangerous this can be.Im very scared of dying. Anyone on FLAGLYL and it causes them to be lightheaded and spacey?
August 23rd, 2006 at 5:18 pm
I don’t know if this would help or be of any interest, but have you ever heard of Kefir? It is a milk related type of yogurt with an incredilble amount of friendly bacteria. Look it up on the internet. Once again, it is called Kefir Dom’s site is particularlrly good and full of information. I hope this helps. Good Luck and I hope yo feel better soon, all of you.
August 25th, 2006 at 7:35 pm
I was diagnosed with diverticulitis in may, treated with flagyl and levaquin, then got c diff about 3 weeks later.
I have just finished my third round of flagyl, how long before I develop an immunity to the flagyl? what happens then?
Any ideas out there?
I just know this is a miserable condition to try and deal with.
September 17th, 2006 at 3:43 pm
I have just returned home to Ohio after a 10 day stay in the hospital in Scottsdale for C Diff. I was on Flaglyl and Levaquin the week before I was in the hospital for what my Dr. thought was Diverticulitus. I had a Colonoscopcy and I did not have Diverticulitus BUT 3 days after the Colonoscopsy I started having frequent and loose stools. The morning we left for Scottsdale it starting getting worse and by the time we landed I was really feeling lousy so we went to the Emergency Room. They cultured a stool sample, started an IV and within a short period of time admitted for what they said was some kind of Bacterial infection of my intestine. It took a couple of days before the culture came back and confirmed C Diff. I spent 10 days in the hospital and I am now back in Ohio on Vancomycin. They tried me on Flagyl but C Diff did not respond to that.
While I was hospitalized the patient across the hall from me had C Diff, VRE and a staph infection at the site of her IV. She was isolated but we had the same Nurse aide. My Dr. finally released because he said he feared I might get sicker in the hospital. I worry about the stethescope and the blood pressure cup being used on both of us. The aide also brought over a note to me from that patient which was probably contaminated and I never realized the danger. I see my Dr. here tomorrow but I am still scared of getting VRE and having recurring episodes of C Diff. Any feed back would be really appreciated.
Thanks – Denise
October 1st, 2006 at 9:34 pm
Denise, may i ask which hospital in scottsdale, which floor, and perhaps which aide.
thanks
and CNA in Scottsdale.
October 19th, 2006 at 11:54 am
my mother just was diagnosed with C-diff. She is 91 and in a nursing home, I am a volunteer and a local hospital with my dog. Is it possible that we transmitted c-diff or that my dog can carry this form one patient to another?
October 19th, 2006 at 4:18 pm
Dogs? No. Not possible. You? Yes- it is possible but doubtful.
Your Mother lives in a nursing home- and the risks for catching C Diff in these settings is very high. Do other residents have it? Has your mother been hospitlized recently?
November 8th, 2006 at 7:38 pm
I had C-Diff for 11 months, it was horrible, I was very ill and did all of the different treatments…Metronidozale, Vancomycin, brewers yeast, probiotic supplements, etc.,a couple others i dont remember. My doctor said that I was getting to the point that I may lose my colon if I did not get better soon. I did a ton of research and found a doctor in Australia (Dr.Borody)that has a cure…it sounds awful, unthinkable really but I brought the information to my doctor and told him that I was considering traveling to Australia to have the procedure done. My doctor looked into it and then he offered to do the procedure for me here (oregon)as long as I signed a waiver…I was happy to! The procedure consists of finding a “fecal donor”, someone who is healthy and preferably a family member, they donate feces to the lab, the lab processes it into liquid form, then put it through a naso-gastric tube into your lower intestine. This “implants” healthy “flora” into your bowel and then balances your system…it worked, I was feeling better within two days without meds, then felt completely normal within 2 weeks. Look up Dr. Borody on the web, it will tell you all about it. You can e-mail me if you would like jjvonfeldt@yahoo.com
November 9th, 2006 at 8:35 pm
Jennifer??? FOR REAL??? I have never heard of this. It sounds….gross as heck…have you been C DIFF clean now??
WOW.
November 15th, 2006 at 8:17 am
very nice site here & very helpful,i have a ? i took both my exams here in n.c.11/11/2006 & thank-god i passed both of them,ok the (2) instructors said it takes 24 to 48 hrs to be on the north carolina registry,as of this a.m. my name is still not listed,could sumone please let me know exactly how long this takes? in order for your name to appear on the registry? thanks so much=)
November 24th, 2006 at 12:47 am
Am really concerned that Dr’s aren’t aware of the fecal
donor technique If it’s a cure? Boggles my mind!!
December 9th, 2006 at 9:55 pm
Hello everyone, I had c diff back in 05 for about 2 months. I was treated with Flagyl (nasty drug) Well yesterday i had to take Zithromax and i am crossing my fingers that i do not get c diff again. Eating lots of yogurt meanwhile. I recomment you visit the clostridium difficile website it saved my life. cdiffsupportgroup.com
Wish everyone a speedy recovery…it can be tough but it can be done. Any questions email apowers_20@yahoo.com
January 25th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
Public health experts agree this definition is incomplete. WBR LeoP
February 13th, 2007 at 2:00 pm
My grandmother was just told that she has an uncontrollable C Diff infection as well as VRE. They said they needed to remove her colon immediately because she would die if the infection spread. It was not responding to any treatments or antibiotics.
She’s in surgery right now.
She had been in a different hospital for 2 months before this hospital. She was in for high Creatinine levels and low blood pressure. I never liked the hospital she went to. Everyone I know who has ever gone there has died… usually from some type of infection. I always felt that hospital was not clean and wonder if she could have gotten the infections there…
February 14th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
I had a hip replacment in a private hospital here in the UK on Feb 10th 2006 I contracted C Diff the next day and was transferred to the intensive care dept of the local hospital I was very ill indeed for a week and a half at one point they sent for my family and gave me two hours ,they filtered my blood etc ,I was trensferred to a isolation ward after the wek and a half .I spent another week there then was sent home ,I still had very bad diarrhoea that had not got better at all ,after two weeks at home I began to vomit all the time could not keep anything down even water ,my son took me back to the hospital where I was readmitted and put in another isolation ward ,I was being bombarded with anibiotics of some sort and after another week and a half was sent home again ,I was feeling better by this time but still had diarrhoea but not as uncontrollable as before , I began to feel better over the following months but I lost a great deal of my hair and still had diarrhoea it did clear up a great deal by last Christmas and my hair has started to grow again,I still get diarrhoea from time to time even now in Febuary ,so in effect it has taken a year for me to be able to say that I consider myself now over it,
February 23rd, 2007 at 5:45 pm
my neice, age 30, has had a very bad reaction to Flagyl, and it is effecting her Central Nervous System. She has the tingling extremities, racing thoughts, insomnia,loss of balance, etc.
It has been three weeks now.
She tried Xanax for a week and that just made her cry.
They gave her Klonopin, but I think that was too much.
Sonata (only slept 3 hours, and then wide awake)
Now, today, Friday, the 23rd, she is trying to decide between taking Ambien or Saraquel.
I think that she should try the Ambien first for 3 to 4 nights to see if catching up on her sleep would help, before going on to Saraquel which could have more side effects.
Does any one know of someone in the St Louis area who is familiar which Flagyl toxicity, or can you direct me to a blog dealing with Flagyl? I am going to try the cdiff website although she was not diagnosed with cdiff.
I sincerely appreciate any help that you can give us.
February 25th, 2007 at 5:21 pm
Hello all,
I am hoping some of you may offer information that I could use. My husband has multiple health issues and had kidney cancer 3 years ago. In the past year his abdominal pain and cramping has increased. Anyway he was recently in the hospital for his COPD, yes he was on IV antibodics like they do everytime he is hospitiled. He was dischraged last Thursday and readmitted the same day for acute abdominal pain and not just a bloody stool, it was all blood. They are testing for C Diff which I do not believe he has but how long does the test results take to come back? And does the Diarrhea stop when you are on a liquid diet? Thanks so much for your help!! I hope all of you feel better soon!
March 5th, 2007 at 8:40 pm
Hello All,
I just wanted to let you all know that I am praying for you that you recover, I have just lost my beloved grandfather to C-Diff yesterday, he was a healthy, strong and independent 83 year old that went to the hospital for a knee surgery, he walked in and 3 weeks later died. He began to show symptoms about a week after the surgery and by the time the hospital decided to take action it was too late, the only option was to remove 60% of the bowels and they figured he would die in the surgery anyway. I am completely heart broken to think that because of poor patient conditions and nursing care my grandfather had to die, I witnessed nursing touching several different patients with the same gloves that she had just worn to clean my grandfather. Again, I understand what you are all going thru, I hope that you all are able to recover.
March 6th, 2007 at 12:29 am
Hello everyone,
I knew that I had c-diff, even though the tests came back negative for 6 weeks. I am a nurse and have seen it on numerous occaisions. Finally after a run of Flagyl then Vanco, my susmptoms had subsided. Then on 3/2, I had to have a procedure and was given a mild antiobiotic and also taking florastor. Guess what came back after 5 doses of the antibiotic? Yep, you guessed it c-diff. I am soo frustrated. Have any of you tried any homeopathic treatments?
March 13th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
ange says hello i am writeing to say i understand what you are all going through i have just nearly lost my son to c diff nov 2006 only 26 years old he had to have all of his large bowl and colon removedi i am so frustrated because the hospital say we took him in with it!i dont think so but I am so greatful to have him HOME it was 50/50 chance for him at first but my boy win the dreaded BUG wish you all well and fight on’
March 15th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
C Diff is a real problem. I want to make sure everyone is going to their doctors? And not trying to deal with this on their own??
March 17th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
My father, a very active 76 year old, died from C-diff on 3/12/07. He went to the hospital 3/2 with 2 broken ribs from a fall, got pneumonia and was treated with antibiotics. He was placed in intensive care on 3/9. He was very alert that day. Overnight his condition deteriorated and ultimately he died. Until now, I never heard of C-diff. It will haught me forever not knowing whether he contracted the infection as a result of the hospital or the antibiotics. I am still in disbelief! I pray to all of you that have this terrible infection …
March 21st, 2007 at 9:47 am
I would like to know how long i have had c diff i had pouts of loose stool and was not feeling good for a long time until time went by and i had a lot of blood in my stool. have been treated with antibotics now what. i would like more information
March 29th, 2007 at 11:06 pm
So is this diff as bad as it sounds? I am fifty years old and the doctors office called and told me i had c-diff. I new something was up when the doctors asked for a stool sample. This was a first. And she asked if i heard of c-diff. I like smart doctors. Buy the way the stool sample well, very nasty. I have had diarrhea, belly aches, sharp pain lower left side, and sometimes my upper chest hurts.
I had gone to a doctor weeks ago for a sinus infection. took antibiodics for two weeks, when that wouldn’t go away. I got a second opinion. So i am on Leviquin for the sinus, and flagil for the c-diff. I plan on buying some yogurt in the am. Does anyone have more advise. Jim
March 29th, 2007 at 11:07 pm
PS my email is
jimcyndy@msn.com
March 30th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
Jim you, and everyone else who continues to comment on this, should do what your doctor says.
C Diff isn’t easy to get rid of; it takes a long time. There is no magic cure. Be patient. Follow your doctors prescribed treatment plan. don’t do something that isn’t medically proven to be safe.
March 31st, 2007 at 11:57 am
For all those seeking information on CDiff, go to http://www.cdiffsupport.com Very very thorough info there. Go to “Discuss” at the top of the page for the forum and information areas.
April 19th, 2007 at 7:09 am
I am sorry to hear about those with c. Diff. My grandfather is 87 and now has C. Diff from being in the Leicester Royal Infirmary (UK). I am heartbroken as the hospital has now decided to stop all medication as he is not getting any better and will probably only survive for a few more day. In some ways it is a relief as this horrible bug has caused him nothing but pain, heartache and his life! I am angered at how the hospital has tried to cover up this infection. I wasn’t informed that he even had C. Diff until I looked at his notes and the nurses on the ward said that protective clothing wasnt required!!! Something really needs to be done to prevent this from spreading. Can anyone tell me how long it was until thier symptoms started? I am concerned as I have been in extrenely close contact with my grandfather.
April 19th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
I contracted c diff in january of 2007. The 10 day Flagyl course of medication seems to have cured it. However, its been about 8 weeks since I completed the pills and I still feel tired and sluggish. I had a blood test that showed I have a little higher than normal readings for hemoglobin and hermeticrit. I’m assuming the higher readings are due to the dehydration I went through with the c diff. Can anyone tell me if its unusual to still be feeling sluggish at this point.