Hardly as well known as MRSA, the superbug C. diff (C. difficile or Clostridium difficile) is a species of bacteria that, in the wrong amounts, can bring on an infection that at best is very uncomfortable... and at worst a serious threat to your life. Once confined to patients in hospitals or the elderly living in long term care facilities, C. diff has now reached epidemic proportions in these settings. What's more, virulent cases of C. diff have appeared in otherwise healthy adults, who hadn't even been taking antibiotics, the usual culprit in these infections.
According to the CDC, the number of C difficile infections doubled between 1993 and 2003, with a sizeable increase coming after the year 2000. The more virulent strain was first identified at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in 2000, taking the lives of 18 patients. By 2004, the new aggressive C. diff strain had been seen both in the United States and other nations of the world. Studies showed it produces 20 times more toxin than the older strains.
You'll come across the little troublemaker everywhere - in the air, water, dirt and both human and animal feces - which is where many people pick up the infection. Now you see why hand washing is so important! C. diff infection is also especially likely in hospitals or other health care settings where there are lots of people, heavy antibiotic use and patients with weakened immunity.
Once the balance of your intestinal microbes is thrown off (as often happens during treatment with broad spectrum antibiotics) the pathogen can take hold and start to produce dangerous toxins. These substances attack the intestinal lining, destroying cells and leaving pseudomembranes - telltale patches of inflammatory cells and decaying debris that can be seen on the interior of the colon.
Ironically, the treatment for a C. diff infection is - antibiotics, but different medicines than the ones that brought on the trouble in the first place. These drugs wipe out the abundance of C. diff and allow good bacteria to once more take hold in the digestive tract. Once the good bacteria are in control, damaging C. diff will be kept in check. Sounds sensible and it worked too... until the more virulent strain of C. diff come to take hold... able to thrive in spite of the drugs doctors use to beat it back.
The idea of bacteria becoming resistant to medications is not new - examples have been reported for the past 60 years. What certainly is a cause for concern is that the number of organisms, and the number of drugs that they've learned to "live" through, is growing all the time. Many experts believe that with our overzealous use of antibacterials and the like, we put these organisms under intense pressure to develop ways to resist our attempts to be rid of them.
What can you do to protect yourself and your family from a C. diff infection?
Here are some suggestions:
- Wash your hands - use water, antibacterial (regular soap works too) soap and scrub for a good 30 seconds, rinse and dry with a clean towel. Do this before every meal, as well as upon leaving any health care setting or caring for a sick relative at home.
- Eat yogurt with live cultures - especially if you're being treated with antibiotics, though you should discuss your plans with your doctor first. Live cultures are a more natural way to try and maintain the balance of good bacteria in your digestive system.
- See your doctor - if you have symptoms such as watery diarrhea, fever, pain in the abdomen, nausea or loss of appetite so you can be diagnosed promptly and treated properly.
- Avoid broad-spectrum antibiotics if possible - discuss your treatment options with your doctor. Pharmacists are another source of good, accurate information on medicines and the organisms they are intended to treat.
- Consider probiotics - foods and supplements that are sources of "good" bacteria have shown promise in reducing the length of C. diff infections and are well known to help with diarrhea.
- Use bleach-based cleaners - to clean all surfaces in an area where someone with a C. diff infection has been.
- Hold off on prophylactic antibiotics - a common practice before surgery, this is now being reviewed and reconsidered by many physicians. Talk to your own doctor about the risks and benefits for you.
- Finish antibiotics - just because you feel better, doesn't mean the bacteria causing the trouble are finished. When you stop a drug too soon, you encourage organisms to become resistant to that drug.
As the media becomes more aware of the dangers of the superbug C. diff and others, the alarming reports will start coming out of the woodwork. The good news is that hospitals and long term care facilities are aware and working on the problem. By following the suggestions you've found here, especially the one about practicing good hand washing, you can reduce your risk of this uncomfortable, potentially dangerous infection.
No comments:
Post a Comment