What is C Diff?
Posted by Patti on May 18th, 2006 / 
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What is Clostridium difficile (C. Difficile)?
C. difficile is a spore-forming, gram-positive anaerobic bacillus that produces two exotoxins: toxin A and toxin B. It is a common cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD). It accounts for 15-25% of all episodes of AAD.
What are C. difficile-associated diseases?
They are diseases that result from C. difficile infections including:
* pseudomembranous colitis (PMC)
* toxic megacolon
* perforations of the colon
* sepsis
* death (rarely)
What are the main clinical symptoms of C. difficile-associated disease?
Clinical symptoms include:
* watery diarrhea
* fever
* loss of appetite
* nausea
* abdominal pain/tendernes
Which patients are at increased risk for C. difficile-associated disease?
The risk for disease increases in patients with:
* antibiotic exposure
* gastrointestinal surgery/manipulation
* long length of stay in healthcare settings
* a serious underlying illness
* immunocompromising conditions
* advanced age
What is the difference between C. difficile colonization and C. difficile-associated disease?
C. difficile colonization
* patient exhibits NO clinical symptoms
* patient tests positive for C. difficile organism and/or its toxin
* more common than C. difficile-associated disease
C. difficile-associated disease
* patient exhibits clinical symptoms
* patient tests positive for the C. difficile organism and/or its toxin
June 29th, 2006 at 6:06 pm
I used a very strong antibiotic sfter a root canal proceedure.,May 30 for eight days. On June 17 th, I started having mild cramps and loose stools. I thought it was a stomach virus.By the 2nd week of this getting worse and seeing my family Dr 3 times and not feeling better but worse,I decided to see a gastro Dr. He scoped me and told me I had c diff-and was LUCKY that it was caught before the week was over! I feel lucky to be alive. Hopefully, I am on the road to recovery-will be a while I’m told! Why don’t the physicians tell the patient the risks of these strong antibiotics and tell the patients to prepare prior to the adminunistation . A simple little acidophilis tablet might make the difference! I, for one, will think about using an antibiotic again! Lynn
July 9th, 2006 at 8:15 pm
Can the C-diff toxin spread to the brain if the case is severe enough? I’d appresciate any feedback on this
July 12th, 2006 at 8:39 am
I am sick. I need to see a doctor. Am caring for a patient who we suspected had C diff. Now the patient has C diff. for sure. I have diarrhea all of the time any way. I am getting more and more tired. I am gonna go to a GI doc. Thanks for the help about C diff. The docs should be more aware of who they care for. We have to be sharp and vigilant also. No more antibiotics for me without more thought!!!
Monica…
August 9th, 2006 at 7:19 pm
i started the medications for C DIFF just 2 and a half days ago. i still have a fever. i’v wondering how ong it takes to get of this. It’s bad….
August 21st, 2006 at 12:32 am
ANY ONE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH LIGHTHEADED NESS OR DIZZINESS WITH C.DIFF OR FLAGYL?
August 24th, 2006 at 10:44 am
I tested positive for C. difficile. I felt dizzy, nauseous, intense itching, and diarhea.
August 31st, 2006 at 12:10 pm
My father was diagnosed with c-diff, and I have twin two year old boys who have been exsposed to this also. I haven’t tested positive for it yet, but probably will. The doctors in my area have said that me and my sons are not at risk because it doesn’t affect people our age, and I was wondering if that was true?
September 7th, 2006 at 11:18 pm
My grandpa was just diagnosed w/ C. Diff. He also has Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC). I was just wondering if he got C. Diff from already having a liver disease. Let me know please!
October 7th, 2006 at 10:34 am
My 83 year old mother was diagnosed with colon CA last year. She had radiation and chemo therapy. Six weeks after the last treatment she had surgery. She had an ileostomy. After 7 months of recouperating and treatment for an abcess and waiting for a pocket to collapse in her intestine she had reversal ileostomy surgery. She has been ill and unable to come home since the surgery. After leaving the hospital and going into a rehab facility she became ill with a high fever and was admitted back to the hospital. Her DX C-Diff. This vicious cycle has been going on for 20 weeks now since May 2006. She is presently in the hospital. The ER told me last evening that she has C-Diff / colitis. An abdominal CT Scan revealed that her entire intestines are inflammed. She has been on many antibiotics. Can C-Diff be fatal?
October 11th, 2006 at 3:09 pm
I AM 32 AND WENT IN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR A URINARY TRACT INFECTION.I WAS GIVEN ANTIBIOTICS I.V.I I WAS SENT HOME AND WAS DOING BETTER.AFTER ABOUT A WEEK,I GOT REALLY SICK.I HAD A FEVER,CHILLS,DIARRHEA.I BECAME SO EXTREMELY DEHYDRATED AND ENDED UP IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM.I WAS LATER DIAGNOSED WITH C.DIFF AFTER A STOOL SAMPLE.I HAVE NEVER BEEN SOOO SICK.I WOULD DEFINITELY THINK TWICE BEFORE EVER TAKING ANTIBIOTICS AGAIN.
October 25th, 2006 at 11:22 pm
I went into the hospital for gallbladder surgery, discovered I was a bleeder,also that I have cirosis of the liver and was opened up from the middle of my stomach to my right side. I was home two weeks when i contacted pneumonia and just came home to recuperate. Now the doctor is worried I might get C-diff. How can I prevent this from happening. I have been given mega doses of antibiotics for the last three days and have to continue for two more weeks.
Thanks.
October 28th, 2006 at 5:57 pm
I’m 27 and I got CD from an antibiotic. Was in the hospital for 4 days got out finished my medication. A week later I got a kidney infection and had to go on 2 diffrent antibiotics. Now my dierah is back with a low grade temp and stomack cramps. Please let me know if anyone has had a reacurance> Thanks Jennifer
October 31st, 2006 at 11:55 pm
Antibiotics are only for those peoples having a serious injurious effect even about to death,peoples in a normal condition but having a bit bad indication cannnot take antibiotics but the light pills.
November 8th, 2006 at 7:33 pm
hi, my 6 week old son came down c diff. they are not sure how he got it but after a couple of days in the hospital he was released and we finished using Flaggy at home. within 48 off the medication he started back up with dIARRHEA, fever, very fussy, didnt want to eat. we just found he has it again. he doctor is not sure why he got it again. good luck to anyone who has it
November 13th, 2006 at 4:59 pm
I was taking Augmentin for a root canal and came into contact with C-Diff [probably through my daughter who is a student nurse]. I have extreme bloody diarrhea , cramping, dehydration and was hospitalized for 5 days. Fortunatly my intestines did not perferate. I am now taking an additonal 14 days of flagyl and Cholestyramine, and praying I don’t get it back or give it to someone else.Ironically think my mother had it after a brief hospitaliztion 5 years, only she was not so lucky and had a perferation, colostomy, spetic shock and a coma for a month…what is going on with this disease?
November 14th, 2006 at 6:00 pm
I was taking abx r/t dental procedure for approx 1/1/2 wk,became with fever,chills,abdominal cramping,persistent diarrhea,very fatigued,I was informed by my M.D to start the BRAT diet,bread,rice,applesause,toast,I am approx 105lbs,I cant afford those low cal,is there any more diets or suggestions to us c-diff pts on what to eat? thanks
November 15th, 2006 at 8:06 pm
I don’t think I’ve heard of people catching C Diff through dental visits.
That seems a little far off for me. And you don’t get it from other people…per say. YOU DO get it when you’re immune system is weak and you’re hospitized; when you’re taking antibiotics and come into contact with someone who hasn’t washed their hands…someone who has cared for another person with C Diff.
December 10th, 2006 at 9:27 pm
People who say you don’t get c diff from other people are wrong. A lot of times people that come down with c diff think they really have a stomach virus like food poisoning and not take necessary precautions as to wash their hands often. C Diff is very common after antibiotic prescription for dental procedure. I had a tooth infection the summer of 05 and was given 10 days of Clindamycin (biggest c diff offender) 2 weeks later i started having diarrhea which i let it go for 2 weeks thinking it was something i had eaten. Went to emergency room (cramping like hell) and was dx with C Diff. I thought it was something that would be history after i got treatment for it. Well it came back a week later. It’s been a year since and i still to this day dread the mention of antiboitics. Unfortunately 2 days ago i had to take Zithromax now i’m praying that it wont come back to hunt me. The worse part about this is the watch and wait. It could hit you weeks after antibiotic use. I am loading up on probiotics and yogurt. Anyone dealing with this visit cdiffsupportgroup.com website. It saved my life.
December 22nd, 2006 at 11:50 pm
I have a 3 yr. old that is handicapped and has been fighting c-diff for almost 6 months. We have tried vancomycin,flagyl,and alinia nothing seems to be working. About a month ago she came close to passing away. Her white blood count reached 116,000 and her kidneys started to shut down. she had fevers reaching 106.7. They sent us to another hospital 3 hours away from home not knowing exactly what was going on . She had a bone marrow biopsy to make sure it was not luekemia. The test were negative. We were told the c-diff was really bad and it had infected her body. We were also told that a couple of kids had already passed away with this and that she needed to have her colon removed. We are now home but she still has it. We need to know if there is anything else we can do.
December 23rd, 2006 at 1:35 am
Rachel sorry for what’s going on with your little one. Please visit the c diff support site. You will find lot of advice and guidence there
December 29th, 2006 at 5:27 pm
My mother had a knee replacement, went to nursing home for rehab, came down with C. diffe, had to literally be taken from nursing home to hospital in another town because the hospital in our town is ran by Mennonites–they left her to die.
Just closed her door and walked away !
Since being moved to another hospital, has fallen and broken hip, had it replaced, and just when she thinks it is safe to come home and does–the spores of this terrible bacteria flare up and she has C. diffe all over again.
We have been told C. diffe is generally a bacteria for the very young, or the aged.
So, anyone with C. diffe should stay in contact with their Dr. because the spores open approx. 3 weeks after they think the C. diffe is gone–and the process starts all over again.
Best of luck, and God Bless anyone who gets, or has this horrible bacteria–it is deadly.
December 29th, 2006 at 7:42 pm
Dee, it’s always appropriate to see an MD when these things happen. Never try to treat this stuff on your own.
December 30th, 2006 at 2:53 am
I dont know but why i don find such informative and profitable blogs so often,I suspect blogging world is becoming so small that we cant find such lucrative blogs like this one.
I think you make more blogs for this type. Than we take a lots of information for it.
December 31st, 2006 at 6:54 pm
My daughter was in the emergency room for 7 hours two nights ago. She has had severe stomache cramps and diarrhea on and off for about two months. We are still waiting for the results of a stool specimen to come in. I’ve heard that taking a probiotic will work. Is this true?
January 30th, 2007 at 1:00 pm
My sister has been in the hospital now for 7 days and has Crohns disease, and now just recently diaganosed with the C-diff bacteria. Before I knew of this I was holding her hands, kissing her, even changing her wastebucket with loose stools in it, (nurses were really busy). Is there a good chance I might get this and if so , how soon????
February 19th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
My 1 1/3 year old son came down with what we thought was the flu, throwing up, watery diahhrea, 3 days later I came down with what I thought was his flu, was taken to the hospital 8 hours after that, could not stop throwing up, or diahhrea, had dehydrated, and had blood in my stool. After three days of tests, they did a stool sample and said I had C-diff. Now they say my son is the carrier, he is still throwing up and having the diahhrea. He has lost 4 pounds and after taking him to his pediatrician today and telling him what was going on, since he didn’t display any symptoms while he was there, he wouldn’t do anything for him. Just said take a stool sample to the lab when I could. Now my parents have come down with it since they were the caregiver for my son while I was in the hospital. My father has an iliostomy and has had his entire colon removed. He really cannot afford to contract this. I am at a stone wall, please help!
February 22nd, 2007 at 9:00 am
I GOT C-DIFF AFTER BEING TREATED FOR MANY BLADDER INFACTIONS. TO FIND OUT LATTER I HAD TWO VERY LARGE KIDDNEY STONES. I HADTHRE OPERATIONS TO REMOVE THE STONES. AFTER MY LAST OPERATION I GOT VERY SICK THE NEXT DAY WENT TO THE HOSPITAL AND HAD TO STAY ,THEY DIDN’T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG, TWO DAYS LATTER THE DID A TEST AND FOUND OUT I HAD C-DIFF. I HAD BEEN GIVEN TO MANY DIFFERENT ANTIBIOTICS IN A 4 MONTH TIME FOR DIFFERENT THINGS. I , AN KNOW AND HAVE HAD A LUMB ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY STOMACH, I ALSO GET THES VERY SHARP PAINS LIKE LITTLE NEEDLES AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND PLACES IN MY STOMACH.CAN ANY ONE HELPE ME OUT I NEVER HAD IT TILL AFTER I HAD C-DIFF THANK YOU MELODIE
February 23rd, 2007 at 12:18 am
My son had C-Diff about 2 years ago and suffered greatly. We went to the pediatrician, gastro-specialists, and any ER that would have us. They gave him Vancromycyn and Flagyl,the only known cures for this horrible ailment but, they were not working at all…Then I called a local ask a nurse hotline begging for alternative answers and my last hope was found…The nurse told me about Probiotics and reintroducing good flora bacteria back into his stomach…Boulardi and Accidofolous in high concentrations saved my son’s life..Thank God for that nurse for telling me about Probiotics
February 24th, 2007 at 11:33 am
Please go to the C Diff support web site, you will find all kinds of information in the Discuss Forum. cdiffsupportgroup.com
February 24th, 2007 at 11:36 am
Sorry the website is this
March 23rd, 2007 at 2:56 pm
In Jan 07′ I came down with what I thought was a terrible flu/stomach virus..AFTER being on OMNICEF- an antibiotic my dr. put me on for a SINUS infection. Sure enough, for a week,1. I got an intense migraine (first sign for me) I never even get headaches!! diarreah, nausea ,puking, 104.0 temp.. I thought I was dying! I saw a dr. after a few days, waited for my stool sample to return and sure enough had this crazy virus/disease thing.. C-DIFF – The worst thing anyone can have. I was prescribed vancomycin 125mg tabs 4x a day for 10 days. After taking the vancomycin, my stools went from watery to solid, but “airy” (good explination I think if you’ve had c-diff you know what Im talking about) i finished the vancomycin, felt great for 2 weeks, and sure enough.. one day.. an intense migraine started again.. i thought uh oh.. got home, diarreah all over again. CALL YOUR DR. IMMEDIETLY!~ DONT WAIT! I called her, was referred to a GI dr.. she wanted another sample sent it, sent it in, I had c-dif YET AGAIN. She put me on vancomycin 250mg 4x a day for 2 weeks. Again, I felt great for 5 days, and on came the migraine. No symptoms of diarreah (actually constipation..) I felt great besides the migraine.. I just for my results back today and I have it AGAIN. She switched me to the flagyl, she also told me NOT to drink alcohol WHAT-SO-EVER on it, I guess they give it to alcholics, a sip will make you deathly ill. I dont know what else to do.. Ive been on pro-biotics, yogurt (activia w/ 3 active cultures) twice a day .. You can’t over-do-it on the yogurt, acidophillus etc.. so take it like 6x a day ..Green Tea with honey – has a great antibacterial/healing quality + antioxidents.. I hope soon it will be cured..This is getting old.. really fast ..and it affects your every day life in a MAJOR way!!!I’ve missed weeks of work at time since I’ve gotten c-diff.. I have sympathy for everyone and anyone that has ever had it and if there is anything else I can do to supress the symptoms PLEASE POST THEM!!!Also, I suggest slowly falling back into your old eating patterns, dont just start eating normally again because you feel good, because TRUST ME.. It WONT feel good later… – Sarah