Question 1

what are the signs of c diff turning fatal. would you know. do meds always work. young and healthy. docs not worried about my case. signs clearing up?

Accepted Answer

C. difficile: If you have uncontrolled diarrhea, fever, signs and symptoms compatible with sepsis, gastrointestinal bleeding, these are all precursors to serious and perhaps fatal complications. If you are getting better you should be fine.  Best wishes.

Question 2

is there a genetic predisposition for c. diff? i only ask because my father had a very severe, almost fatal case back in the early 90s and would like to know if i should be extra careful in the future?

Accepted Answer

: No, there is not.  
Prolonged hospitalization greatly increases chance to acquire the bacteria (C. difficile) since hospitals and nursing homes are major reservoirs  for C. difficile.  Known risk factors for C. difficile disease include antimicrobial therapy, repeated enemas, gastric acid suppression therapy, gastro- and jejunostomy tubes, bowel surgery, and immunodeficiency.

Question 3

how serious is c-diff?

Accepted Answer

Can be very serious: C. Difficile, when pathologic, is a bacterial infection and as such warrants specialized antibiotic treatment with documentation of eradication following such appropriate therapy. That being said, a special probiotic (florastor = sacchromyces boulardes) can help inhibit growth of c.Diff, can help reduce recurrence in at risk populations, and may possibly prophylax against c.Diff infection.

Question 4

how is c-diff transmitted?

Accepted Answer

Stool contact: You generally acquire it by taking antibiotics, but it can also be transmitted from person-to-person (contact with stool).

Question 5

what is c. diff colitis?

Accepted Answer

See below: It is an illness with diarrhea and fever, that usually follows antibiotic treatment for some other infection. Clostridium difficile is often a hospital acquired infection. Treatment is usually with an antibiotic though fecal transplant is helpful in some patients. See this site for more information.
http://www.cdc.gov/hai/organisms/cdiff/Cdiff-patient.html

Question 6

will maalox cause c. diff?

Accepted Answer

No: There is no evidence that maalox causes c. Diff. Antibiotics are associated with the development of c. Diff.

Question 7

how long is c diff contagious?

Accepted Answer

Good question: Hard to say. We don't routinely test patients with c diff to confirm eradication after treatment, because they can still be asymptomatic carriers (test positive but feeling well). So are they contagious? Probably not. The vast majority of people exposed to someone with prior c diff don't get sick. But exposure to active c diff could lead to colonization, or even infection if on antibiotics.

Question 8

what is the lifespan of c diff?

Accepted Answer

Very long: C diff can form spores that can live for years.

Question 9

can c.diff cause headache on one side?

Accepted Answer

Head ache: Head ache when you have c.difficle colitis probably a coincident.

Question 10

tell me about c diff risk for elderly.?

Accepted Answer

High: As our immune system ages it less effectively fights infection. Clostrium difficile is a bacteria that often lives uneventfully in our GI tract. With the use of antibiotics, the normal bacteria in our large bowel is destroyed- c diff can then grow unchecked. C diff can also be spread by health care workers and other patients. It can be very serious and life threatening, especially in the elderly.

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Doctor answers about:

Can c diff be fatal

A member asked:

What are the signs of c diff turning fatal. would you know. do meds always work. young and healthy. docs not worried about my case. signs clearing up?

A member asked:

Is there a genetic predisposition for c. diff? i only ask because my father had a very severe, almost fatal case back in the early 90s and would like to know if i should be extra careful in the future?

A member asked:

How serious is c-diff?

A member asked:

How is c-diff transmitted?

A member asked:

What is c. diff colitis?

A member asked:

Will maalox cause c. diff?

A member asked:

How long is c diff contagious?

A member asked:

What is the lifespan of c diff?

A member asked:

Can c.diff cause headache on one side?

A member asked:

Tell me about c diff risk for elderly.?

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