In other posts I have been pondering the possibility of oriechtomy to resolve some testes medical issues (non-cancerous). during my research I discovered "C. diff".
The information about C. diff makes me never want to go into a hospital even to visit someone, let alone for any treatment.
Alcohol sanitizers don't kill it.
Bleach, used liberally, will kill it.
Washing your hands VERY thoroughly with hot water and soap will kill most of it but may not kill all of it. A bleach/soap mixture is best.
It contaminates anything and everything: bed rails, bed tables, uniforms, privacy curtains, faucets, call buttons. Never take a touchy feelie child into a hospital - they are germ dungeons.
And if you are taking antibiotics, as I do frequently for epididymitis, should C. diff get on anything ingested it will lead to severe diarrhea, dehydration, inflammation of the colon, and even death.
FACT: Patient #1 in the Thomas Jefferson Medical Center in Philadelphia came down with C. diff. After they were discharged,
Patients #2, 3, 4 who used the same bed as patient #1 ALL came down with C. diff. and one of them died. (sounds like a law suit to me)
If you visit places where hospital workers wear their scrubs in public areas, DO NOT go into those areas. The C. diff will transfer from their scrubs directly to surfaces if the clothing comes in to contact with it, and from the scrubs to their hands, to tables, chairs, pens, doors, etc.
This makes elective surgery for anything MUCH less appealing to me.
About the only surgery to submit to would be to save my life.
If you are visiting anyone in the hospital, take bleach in a plastic bottle and a cloth and clean off all surfaces for your protection, and for the protection of the person you are seeing. It's that serious I guess.
Thoughts of surgery for myself are diminishing.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/id_Cdiff_data.html
Clostridium difficile, or "C. diff"
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Re: Clostridium difficile, or "C. diff"
http://www.cdiffsupport.com/aboutcdiff.html
Other names that the disease can be known as are:
Clostridium Difficile Colitis, Antibiotic-Associated Colitis, C. Difficile, C. Dif, C.D., A.A.C.D. and C.D.C.
What is Clostridium Difficile - in easy terms to understand?
C - difficile is a bacteria in your intestines. It is found normally in healthy and ill people alike. There are millions, perhaps billions of different types of bacteria in your body. Bacteria are an important part of your health. They help break down and digest food. They also ward off many "bad" or foreign bacteria that you may come in contact with. In fact, the "good" or normal bacteria on your hands can kill certain bad bacteria which you may pick up handling food or touching everyday items and fixtures.
How do I get Clostridium Difficile Colitis or Antibiotic-Associated Colitis?
Your body has lots of "good" and necessary bacteria. It also has some "bad" or dangerous bacteria. Clostridium difficile is a "bad" bacteria. Fortunately, when you are healthy and not taking antibiotics, the millions of good bacteria in your system keep the c - diff under control and in smaller numbers. However, when you take an antibiotic, the levels of good bacteria are reduced down to a smaller number. If your c-diff is strong and doesn't get killed by the antibiotic along with the good bacteria, then it is possible that the c-diff will overpopulate inside your intestine or colon. When this happens, you may get the illness called clostridium difficile colitis.
When you have an imbalance of bacteria and c-diff takes over, it creates two main types of toxins that affect your body and give you the symptoms of the actual disease. The toxins attack your intestinal wall and left untreated may cause ulcerations. Your symptoms may include diarrhea and cramping at first. The later stages are commonly flu-like symptoms of weakness, dehydration, fever, nausea, vomiting and in advanced stages - blood in your stool / feces. If a patient is left untreated, they can die from it. This is rare. It has been reported that clostridium difficile is mostly only contagious from other people through the fecal-oral route To avoid spreading this - one should clean thoroughly all toilets, utensils and fixtures (wearing rubber gloves) while in the same house or ward to avoid cross-contamination. In addition, people should always wash their hands while preparing food regardless of if they have c-diff or not. While using these simple precautions, normally it is rare to spread c-diff and there is no need for hysteria or paranoia about catching it. I lived with my wife for over a year in the same house and did not catch it. Also, even if you did get a spore - you may not actually become symptomatic.
Antibiotic usage is usually the initial cause of developing this disease. Additionally, antibiotics are usually the cause of recurrent cases of c-diff. Ironically - two very powerful antibiotics are used to primarily treat the disease! Ironic, isn't it?
How is it diagnosed?
First of all, you must have some symptoms to suspect that you have it. Normal symptoms are listed in the previous question. You must see your doctor to be diagnosed and treated. Under no circumstances shall you use the information here as a method of diagnosis or treatment. You cannot be certain that this is what you have until a test is done. A diagnosis includes a test done by a lab with a stool sample to be sure that you actually have the illness. A gastroenterologist is the main specialist which normally handles this illness because they deal with illnesses of the gastrointestinal tract (stomach & intestines) and are trained in that area of the body. The gastroenterologist may perform a colonoscopy to assess the damage to your intestines and the presence of the c-diff and polyps. Click here to see a picture of a colonoscopy.
Some regular physicians can treat and cure you. If you have a stubborn case, you may ask your physician to refer you to a specialist. There have been cases where non-specialist physicians did not know enough about c-diff and actually aggravated the condition by mis-diagnosing or prescribing another antibiotic or medicine that encouraged c-diff overpopulation. For example, we had one doctor that prescribed an anti-diarrhea medicine which resulted in the toxins staying in my wife's intestine. The body gives you diarrhea for a reason: to get rid of the bad stuff. It is like putting your body's natural cleansing system in high gear to get rid of toxin. However, prolonged diarrhea may cause dehydration and death. So, go see a doctor!
How is it normally treated?
Keep in mind that this illness is usually treatable with a couple of special antibiotics and for most people it goes away after a couple weeks or as prescribed by your doctor. For the other approximately 20% of the patients who are not cured, the common first-line and least expensive drug used is Flagyl (metronidazole). If Flagyl is ineffective then Vancocin (vancomycin) is commonly prescribed. The Vancocin is very expensive (about $4.80 per pill!!). As of right now, the vancomycin is the last-resort and there are no other main line and clinically proven and accepted (by USDA) defenses against c-diff.
C-difficile produces spores when attacked by antibiotics. The spores can live in the open air or in dirt for up to two years. Normal disinfectants have been shown ineffective against the spores. This means that even if you kill the C-dif bacteria, spores can still be present. When the leftover spores detect an attack from conventional antibiotics, it unmasks the spores and causes them to start producing the C-dif bacteria all over again. This is why you can get rid of the symptoms while on the medicine and it can come right back later.
Those of us who have not been cured by the normal treatment by our doctor call this illness a disease because there is not a solid cure for everyone. Today, there are numerous people contributing to this web site - most of which still have the disease and have had it ranging from 2 months to 1 year or more. So you see - this can be a disease for some people if it won't go away. There is no guarantee if a patient will get rid of it and it may affect them or be susceptible for the rest of their lives. It recurs in many people who get off the medicine.
Alternative treatments
The alternative (not medically or clinically proven or certified by USFDA) treatments listed were gleaned from other sources on the internet and from people who have c-diff and are trying them. You should consult a doctor prior to any treatment and realize that self-treatment may be dangerous without proper direction. We are not recommending any specific treatment in this website. Get your doctor's guidance before using any listed below as this is for informational purposes only.
Here is the list:
Acidophilus, bifidobacterium, yogurt (live cultures), brewer's yeast, saccharomyces boulardii (Florastor), fructooligosaccharides (FOS), lactobacillus, enemas, specific diet as recommended by a Medical or Naturopathic Doctor & "pulse dosing".
Other reported treatments (may or may not be USFDA certified drugs):
Teicoplanin, questron, bacitracin, rifampin w/ vancomycin, colestid, nisin, certain technology which bind toxins.
Here are the most talked about or newest supplements as surveyed by our visitors currently:
1. Lactobacillus acidophilus (Acidophilus)
2. Florastor & Saccharomyces boulardii
3. Stool enema/replacement -fecal transplant therapy
4. Toxin binding clinical trials
5. "Pulse dosing"(on bulletin board)
Copyright 1998-2002 by Clostridium Difficile Foundation. May not be reproduced without permission.
Information on this site is provided for informational purposes and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professional. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication. You should read carefully all product packaging. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, promptly contact your health care provider. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Other names that the disease can be known as are:
Clostridium Difficile Colitis, Antibiotic-Associated Colitis, C. Difficile, C. Dif, C.D., A.A.C.D. and C.D.C.
What is Clostridium Difficile - in easy terms to understand?
C - difficile is a bacteria in your intestines. It is found normally in healthy and ill people alike. There are millions, perhaps billions of different types of bacteria in your body. Bacteria are an important part of your health. They help break down and digest food. They also ward off many "bad" or foreign bacteria that you may come in contact with. In fact, the "good" or normal bacteria on your hands can kill certain bad bacteria which you may pick up handling food or touching everyday items and fixtures.
How do I get Clostridium Difficile Colitis or Antibiotic-Associated Colitis?
Your body has lots of "good" and necessary bacteria. It also has some "bad" or dangerous bacteria. Clostridium difficile is a "bad" bacteria. Fortunately, when you are healthy and not taking antibiotics, the millions of good bacteria in your system keep the c - diff under control and in smaller numbers. However, when you take an antibiotic, the levels of good bacteria are reduced down to a smaller number. If your c-diff is strong and doesn't get killed by the antibiotic along with the good bacteria, then it is possible that the c-diff will overpopulate inside your intestine or colon. When this happens, you may get the illness called clostridium difficile colitis.
When you have an imbalance of bacteria and c-diff takes over, it creates two main types of toxins that affect your body and give you the symptoms of the actual disease. The toxins attack your intestinal wall and left untreated may cause ulcerations. Your symptoms may include diarrhea and cramping at first. The later stages are commonly flu-like symptoms of weakness, dehydration, fever, nausea, vomiting and in advanced stages - blood in your stool / feces. If a patient is left untreated, they can die from it. This is rare. It has been reported that clostridium difficile is mostly only contagious from other people through the fecal-oral route To avoid spreading this - one should clean thoroughly all toilets, utensils and fixtures (wearing rubber gloves) while in the same house or ward to avoid cross-contamination. In addition, people should always wash their hands while preparing food regardless of if they have c-diff or not. While using these simple precautions, normally it is rare to spread c-diff and there is no need for hysteria or paranoia about catching it. I lived with my wife for over a year in the same house and did not catch it. Also, even if you did get a spore - you may not actually become symptomatic.
Antibiotic usage is usually the initial cause of developing this disease. Additionally, antibiotics are usually the cause of recurrent cases of c-diff. Ironically - two very powerful antibiotics are used to primarily treat the disease! Ironic, isn't it?
How is it diagnosed?
First of all, you must have some symptoms to suspect that you have it. Normal symptoms are listed in the previous question. You must see your doctor to be diagnosed and treated. Under no circumstances shall you use the information here as a method of diagnosis or treatment. You cannot be certain that this is what you have until a test is done. A diagnosis includes a test done by a lab with a stool sample to be sure that you actually have the illness. A gastroenterologist is the main specialist which normally handles this illness because they deal with illnesses of the gastrointestinal tract (stomach & intestines) and are trained in that area of the body. The gastroenterologist may perform a colonoscopy to assess the damage to your intestines and the presence of the c-diff and polyps. Click here to see a picture of a colonoscopy.
Some regular physicians can treat and cure you. If you have a stubborn case, you may ask your physician to refer you to a specialist. There have been cases where non-specialist physicians did not know enough about c-diff and actually aggravated the condition by mis-diagnosing or prescribing another antibiotic or medicine that encouraged c-diff overpopulation. For example, we had one doctor that prescribed an anti-diarrhea medicine which resulted in the toxins staying in my wife's intestine. The body gives you diarrhea for a reason: to get rid of the bad stuff. It is like putting your body's natural cleansing system in high gear to get rid of toxin. However, prolonged diarrhea may cause dehydration and death. So, go see a doctor!
How is it normally treated?
Keep in mind that this illness is usually treatable with a couple of special antibiotics and for most people it goes away after a couple weeks or as prescribed by your doctor. For the other approximately 20% of the patients who are not cured, the common first-line and least expensive drug used is Flagyl (metronidazole). If Flagyl is ineffective then Vancocin (vancomycin) is commonly prescribed. The Vancocin is very expensive (about $4.80 per pill!!). As of right now, the vancomycin is the last-resort and there are no other main line and clinically proven and accepted (by USDA) defenses against c-diff.
C-difficile produces spores when attacked by antibiotics. The spores can live in the open air or in dirt for up to two years. Normal disinfectants have been shown ineffective against the spores. This means that even if you kill the C-dif bacteria, spores can still be present. When the leftover spores detect an attack from conventional antibiotics, it unmasks the spores and causes them to start producing the C-dif bacteria all over again. This is why you can get rid of the symptoms while on the medicine and it can come right back later.
Those of us who have not been cured by the normal treatment by our doctor call this illness a disease because there is not a solid cure for everyone. Today, there are numerous people contributing to this web site - most of which still have the disease and have had it ranging from 2 months to 1 year or more. So you see - this can be a disease for some people if it won't go away. There is no guarantee if a patient will get rid of it and it may affect them or be susceptible for the rest of their lives. It recurs in many people who get off the medicine.
Alternative treatments
The alternative (not medically or clinically proven or certified by USFDA) treatments listed were gleaned from other sources on the internet and from people who have c-diff and are trying them. You should consult a doctor prior to any treatment and realize that self-treatment may be dangerous without proper direction. We are not recommending any specific treatment in this website. Get your doctor's guidance before using any listed below as this is for informational purposes only.
Here is the list:
Acidophilus, bifidobacterium, yogurt (live cultures), brewer's yeast, saccharomyces boulardii (Florastor), fructooligosaccharides (FOS), lactobacillus, enemas, specific diet as recommended by a Medical or Naturopathic Doctor & "pulse dosing".
Other reported treatments (may or may not be USFDA certified drugs):
Teicoplanin, questron, bacitracin, rifampin w/ vancomycin, colestid, nisin, certain technology which bind toxins.
Here are the most talked about or newest supplements as surveyed by our visitors currently:
1. Lactobacillus acidophilus (Acidophilus)
2. Florastor & Saccharomyces boulardii
3. Stool enema/replacement -fecal transplant therapy
4. Toxin binding clinical trials
5. "Pulse dosing"(on bulletin board)
Copyright 1998-2002 by Clostridium Difficile Foundation. May not be reproduced without permission.
Information on this site is provided for informational purposes and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professional. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication. You should read carefully all product packaging. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, promptly contact your health care provider. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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Bagoas (imported)
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Re: Clostridium difficile, or "C. diff"
Isn't the entire genus Clostridium anaerobic * ? If so, how can C. diff. survive on surfaces exposed to oxygen ? Also, if it is anaerobic, would not hydrogen peroxide (which produces nascent oxygen as it decomposes) be a very effective disinfectant against it ?
*Wikipedia says that Clostridium is an obligate anaerobe. This implies that oxygen is toxic to it.
*Wikipedia says that Clostridium is an obligate anaerobe. This implies that oxygen is toxic to it.
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A-1 (imported)
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Re: Clostridium difficile, or "C. diff"
Straight 'POOP" on C Diff.
This particular bacteria is not one normally found in the natural flora and fauna of the human bowel.
In fact, the antibiotics that kill off the natural digestive tract bacteria don't seem to do anything but allow it to grow. So, in a way it is an opportunistic infection.
If the immune system is compromised to the point where antibiotics are the only thing that keeps a person well, they are in serious trouble with a c-diff infection.
What to do, what to do?
Well, how a bout a SHIT transplant?
No, I AM SERIOUS... read about it HERE! (http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2007/11/ ... plant.html)
Fecal transplants seem to kill off the c-diff and start the normal digestive tract bacteria growing again.
I just would like to know where this idea originated...
Don't poo-poo technique:
Fecal transplant can cure superbug, doctors say
More than 90 per cent of C. difficile patients are cured by fecal transplants, studies suggest
Last Updated: Tuesday, November 13, 2007 | 12:17 PM ET
CBC News
A controversial new treatment, which involves the transplantation of human waste, can treat cases of C. difficile infection. But only a handful of physicians in Canada undertake the messy procedure.
Left unchecked, C. difficile bacteria can cause chronic diarrhea, leaving sufferers virtually confined to their bathrooms.Left unchecked, C. difficile bacteria can cause chronic diarrhea, leaving sufferers virtually confined to their bathrooms.
Clostridium difficile is a superbug that commonly spreads in hospital settings and has been linked to the deaths of at least 2,000 people in Quebec since 2003, as well as in other provinces.
Though C. difficile can be kept in check by good bacteria in the bowel, problems can arise when the superbug is treated by antibiotics such as vancomycin. The antibiotics sometimes wipe out the good bacteria but fail to completely kill the C. difficile leaving enough of it that it later flourishes.
"If you wipe out the normal bacteria by taking an antibiotic, then this bug overgrows and it releases a toxin which causes severe diarrhea," Dr. Mike Silverman, an internal medicine specialist from Ajax, Ont., told CBC News.
According to him, the diarrhea can become chronic day after day and month after month. "It's painful, people can't get on with their lives and if doctors can't keep a patient hydrated and nourished, it can be deadly."
Calgary resident Dorothy Badry battled C. difficile for almost a year in 2004.
"You are going to the bathroom at least 40 times a day. And there is a lot of pain associated with that. Your skin starts to break down and the process is extremely painful."
During that time, Badry could not work and could not care for her disabled daughter. "I basically had to give up everything," she said.
Calgary doctor is one of few doing transplants
Fecal transplants have become the first-line treatment for chronic recurrent C. difficile in Scandinavia. As well, more and more doctors are using it in the United States.
Studies that have been published show that more than 90 per cent of patients are cured through fecal transplants most of them after just one treatment.
But only a handful of doctors in Canada are willing to undertake the unpleasant procedure which involves taking a healthy person's fecal matter and transplanting it into a person infected with C. difficile.
They cite sanitation reasons for their hesitation.
Calgary physician Dr. Tom Louie, head of infection control at Foothills Hospital, is one of the few physicians in Canada who treats patients with chronic C. difficile with fecal transplants, or fecal therapy. He has done 38 procedures to date.
The procedure involves getting a close relative of the patient, such as a sibling, to donate several days-worth of stool. Louie tests the stool for diseases such as hepatitis and HIV and then mixes it with saline to create liquid feces. He then administers the stool to the patient through an enema.
Louie said the technique allows good bacteria from the transplanted stool to reduce the number of C. difficile bacteria in the intestines and to restore normal intestinal function.
He said the process is fairly quick.
"It takes me about an hour and I leave it in there overnight. I'm hoping that some of these normal bugs will come and find a home, and when they find a home it will kick out the C. difficile."
'It cured me,' Toronto woman says
Marcia Munro, a Toronto resident, received a fecal transplant from her sister Wendy Sinukoff after suffering from C. difficile for 14 months several years ago.
'This procedure cured me. I know many people die from C. difficile and I want people to know there is hope when you have this illness.'Marcia Munro
"I had to collect stool samples for five days prior to our leaving Toronto, and I collected it in an ice cream container and kept it in the fridge," said Sinukoff.
She had to then fly the samples to Calgary so that Louie could transplant it into her sister a process that involved getting the sample through airport security.
"My biggest fear was that my samples were not allowed to be frozen, so I had to take them as carry-on luggage in the airplane and I was terrified that I was going to be asked to have my luggage searched," she said.
Munro said the transplant was a success.
"It cured me. This procedure cured me and one of reasons I agreed to do this story because it's difficult to talk about is I know many people die from C. difficile and I want people to know there is hope when you have this illness."
This particular bacteria is not one normally found in the natural flora and fauna of the human bowel.
In fact, the antibiotics that kill off the natural digestive tract bacteria don't seem to do anything but allow it to grow. So, in a way it is an opportunistic infection.
If the immune system is compromised to the point where antibiotics are the only thing that keeps a person well, they are in serious trouble with a c-diff infection.
What to do, what to do?
Well, how a bout a SHIT transplant?
No, I AM SERIOUS... read about it HERE! (http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2007/11/ ... plant.html)
Fecal transplants seem to kill off the c-diff and start the normal digestive tract bacteria growing again.
I just would like to know where this idea originated...
Don't poo-poo technique:
Fecal transplant can cure superbug, doctors say
More than 90 per cent of C. difficile patients are cured by fecal transplants, studies suggest
Last Updated: Tuesday, November 13, 2007 | 12:17 PM ET
CBC News
A controversial new treatment, which involves the transplantation of human waste, can treat cases of C. difficile infection. But only a handful of physicians in Canada undertake the messy procedure.
Left unchecked, C. difficile bacteria can cause chronic diarrhea, leaving sufferers virtually confined to their bathrooms.Left unchecked, C. difficile bacteria can cause chronic diarrhea, leaving sufferers virtually confined to their bathrooms.
Clostridium difficile is a superbug that commonly spreads in hospital settings and has been linked to the deaths of at least 2,000 people in Quebec since 2003, as well as in other provinces.
Though C. difficile can be kept in check by good bacteria in the bowel, problems can arise when the superbug is treated by antibiotics such as vancomycin. The antibiotics sometimes wipe out the good bacteria but fail to completely kill the C. difficile leaving enough of it that it later flourishes.
"If you wipe out the normal bacteria by taking an antibiotic, then this bug overgrows and it releases a toxin which causes severe diarrhea," Dr. Mike Silverman, an internal medicine specialist from Ajax, Ont., told CBC News.
According to him, the diarrhea can become chronic day after day and month after month. "It's painful, people can't get on with their lives and if doctors can't keep a patient hydrated and nourished, it can be deadly."
Calgary resident Dorothy Badry battled C. difficile for almost a year in 2004.
"You are going to the bathroom at least 40 times a day. And there is a lot of pain associated with that. Your skin starts to break down and the process is extremely painful."
During that time, Badry could not work and could not care for her disabled daughter. "I basically had to give up everything," she said.
Calgary doctor is one of few doing transplants
Fecal transplants have become the first-line treatment for chronic recurrent C. difficile in Scandinavia. As well, more and more doctors are using it in the United States.
Studies that have been published show that more than 90 per cent of patients are cured through fecal transplants most of them after just one treatment.
But only a handful of doctors in Canada are willing to undertake the unpleasant procedure which involves taking a healthy person's fecal matter and transplanting it into a person infected with C. difficile.
They cite sanitation reasons for their hesitation.
Calgary physician Dr. Tom Louie, head of infection control at Foothills Hospital, is one of the few physicians in Canada who treats patients with chronic C. difficile with fecal transplants, or fecal therapy. He has done 38 procedures to date.
The procedure involves getting a close relative of the patient, such as a sibling, to donate several days-worth of stool. Louie tests the stool for diseases such as hepatitis and HIV and then mixes it with saline to create liquid feces. He then administers the stool to the patient through an enema.
Louie said the technique allows good bacteria from the transplanted stool to reduce the number of C. difficile bacteria in the intestines and to restore normal intestinal function.
He said the process is fairly quick.
"It takes me about an hour and I leave it in there overnight. I'm hoping that some of these normal bugs will come and find a home, and when they find a home it will kick out the C. difficile."
'It cured me,' Toronto woman says
Marcia Munro, a Toronto resident, received a fecal transplant from her sister Wendy Sinukoff after suffering from C. difficile for 14 months several years ago.
'This procedure cured me. I know many people die from C. difficile and I want people to know there is hope when you have this illness.'Marcia Munro
"I had to collect stool samples for five days prior to our leaving Toronto, and I collected it in an ice cream container and kept it in the fridge," said Sinukoff.
She had to then fly the samples to Calgary so that Louie could transplant it into her sister a process that involved getting the sample through airport security.
"My biggest fear was that my samples were not allowed to be frozen, so I had to take them as carry-on luggage in the airplane and I was terrified that I was going to be asked to have my luggage searched," she said.
Munro said the transplant was a success.
"It cured me. This procedure cured me and one of reasons I agreed to do this story because it's difficult to talk about is I know many people die from C. difficile and I want people to know there is hope when you have this illness."