Causes Of A C Diff Infection

what are the causes of a c diff infection, C diff is a modern day health problem and is potentially fatal for sufferers. It can be particularly prevalent in care homes, nursing homes and hospitals. But why?

Ironically, the causes of infection by Clostridium Difficile can be directly linked to antibiotics. Antibiotics have saved millions of lives throughout the world, but they can also destroy the bacteria in our gastrointestinal tracts that act as a barrier against cdiff. About one in 20 adults carry the c diff  micro-organism in their intestines, but it does them no harm, thanks to the other bacteria that lodges inside them. But  then put them on a course of antibiotics and major problems can arise.

The main problem is that the bacteria which guards against the c diff and naturally resides in their intestines can be damaged when antibiotics are ingested. This causes the c diff to release toxins. When that happens you have someone suffering from  a c diff infection which is very contagious..

Further problems may follow as the Clostridium Difficile spores, which can exist outside the body, spread from person to person. This can prove to cause major difficulties where large groups of people reside together, such as healthcare establishments. Even healthcare staff can make the contagion worse by inadvertently spreading the spores from patient to patient.

A C diff infection is easily spread as the spores only have to be breathed in through the mouth and swallowed. Also contact with the faeces of a sufferer will enable it to spread.

Having identified the causes of a c diff infection, it is important to halt it in  its tracks. Unfortunately, because of the spores it creates, the disease is extremely contagious..The main weapon against the spread of this infection is hygiene. Hands should be washed thoroughly, bed linen properly laundered, while  bathrooms and toilets – particularly where there is faeces evident, should be disinfected. This will play a large part in stopping the c  diff infection spreading, while sufferers will have to take medication.