Clostridium Difficile Infection
Clostridium difficile (C. difficile or C. diff) infection is a condition that causes inflammation of the large intestine (colon). This condition can result in damage to the lining of your colon and may lead to colitis. This condition can be passed from person to person (contagious).
CAUSES
C. diff is a bacterium normally found in the colon. This condition is caused when the balance of C. diff is changed and there is an overgrowth of C. diff. This is often caused by antibiotic use.
RISK FACTORS
This condition is more likely to develop in:
• People who take antibiotics.
• Older people.
• People who have had a C. diff infection before.
• People with colon conditions, such as colon cancer.
• People
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SYMPTOMS
Symptoms of this condition include:
• Diarrhea. This may be watery, bloody, or yellow or green in color.
• Fever.
• Fatigue.
• Loss of appetite.
• Nausea.
• Abdominal swelling, pain, or tenderness.
• Dehydration. Dehydration can make you tired and thirsty, have a dry mouth, and urinate less frequently.
DIAGNOSIS
This condition is diagnosed with a medical history and physical exam. You may also have tests, including:
• A test that checks for C. diff in your stool.
• Blood tests.
• A sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy to look at your colon. These procedures involve passing an instrument through your rectum to look at the inside of your colon.
TREATMENT
Treatment for this condition includes:
• Taking antibiotics that keep C. diff from growing.
• Stopping the antibiotics you were on before the C. diff infection began. Only do this as instructed by your health care provider.
• IV fluids, if you are dehydrated.
• Fecal transplant. This is when feces are taken from a healthy person and placed in your colon. This may be done in severe cases.
• Surgery to remove the infected part of the colon. This is