• Clostridium difficile [klo–strid–ee–um dif–uh–seel] (C. difficile) is a bacterium that causes inflammation of the colon, known as colitis. People who have other illnesses or conditions requiring prolonged use of antibiotics, and the elderly, are at greater risk of acquiring this disease.

As the study authors explained, C diff infection is a leading cause of nosocomial diarrhea in elderly people, and the incidence of C diff has increased in long-term care rehabilitation centers and nursing homes in the last 2 decades. The patients had a mean age of 89 years and 23 of the patients enrolled in the study were female.

How serious is C diff in elderly?

In severe cases, C diff may cause sepsis, multiorgan failure, intestinal perforation, or death. It’s a disease that traditionally affects adults over the age of 65, perhaps due to a weakened immune system.

What causes C diff in elderly?

Clostridium difficile infection, the most frequent cause of nosocomial diarrhea, disproportionately affects older adults . The two most important risk factors for developing C . difficile infection are antimicrobial exposure and age >65 years old.

Can C diff kill the elderly?

More than 80% of the deaths associated with C diff infection occurred among Americans aged 65 years or older, and one out of every nine older adults with a healthcare-associated C diff infection died within 30 days of diagnosis, according to the new study.

What are the chances of dying from C diff?

The new study found that 1 out of every 5 patients with a healthcare-associated C . difficile infection experienced a recurrence of the infection and 1 out of every 11 patients aged 65 or older with a healthcare-associated C . difficile infection died within 30 days of diagnosis.

Is it safe to visit someone with C diff?

You can have visitors. They will be asked to wash their hands with soap and water before and after visiting you so that they do not pick up the germ or spread it to others. Healthy people are at very little risk of developing C . diff diarrhoea.

Is yogurt good for C diff?

Introduce Friendly Bacteria Foods that contain probiotics will help repopulate the gut with good bacteria and reduce the risk of regrowth of C diff . Probiotic bacteria are found in yogurt and other fermented foods.

How do I clean my house after C diff?

difficile transmission, the facility should consider using a bleach solution daily in all resident rooms until transmission has ceased. Use a clean cloth saturated with a properly diluted disinfecting solution for each residents’ area of the room. Work from clean to dirty (e.g., bedside tables, bedrails to bathroom).

Can I catch C diff from my husband?

There is a slight chance of spreading C . difficile to your spouse . Wash your hands well before and after contact with each other.

What happens if C Diff goes untreated?

Worst-case scenario, an untreated C . diff infection can lead to uncontrolled inflammation and distention in the colon that may lead to creation of a hole in the intestines that can be fatal.

Can you recover from C diff?

People with Clostridium difficile infections typically recover within two weeks of starting antibiotic treatment. However, many people become reinfected and need additional therapy. Most recurrences happen one to three weeks after stopping antibiotic therapy, although some occur as long as two or three months later.

Can you get sepsis from C diff?

diff ., is a bacteria spread by microscopic spores. It used to be called Clostridium difficile . The bacteria cause inflammation of the gut or colon – colitis. This can lead to moderate-to-severe diarrhea, and sometimes to sepsis , which can develop as the body tries to fight the infection.

What are the long term effects of C diff?

Among other infectious diseases (Shigella, Salmonella, and Campylobacter), long-term consequences such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic dyspepsia/ diarrhea , and other GI effects have been noted. Since the mechanism of action of these agents is similar to C.

What kills C diff in laundry?

Use chlorine bleach if the items can be safely washed with it. Wash your hands with soap and water after you handle the dirty laundry . It’s OK to take clothes to a dry cleaner that were worn by a patient infected with C . diff .

How contagious is C diff to a healthy person?

A person with C . diff becomes less contagious as the symptoms decrease, and little or no toxin is detected in their stools. However, since the person previously infected is still capable of relapsing and/or becoming a carrier for Clostridium difficile , it is difficult to say if the they are no longer contagious .

Can you recover from C diff without antibiotics?

For asymptomatic carriers or patients with antibiotic -associated diarrhea, antibiotics to target C . diff aren’t needed. “This will usually resolve on its own,” Dr. Wenzel pointed out.