The Clostridium Difficile Problem

Clostridium difficile – sometimes abbreviated to c diff - is a major problem, especially in hospitals where it can be particularly prevalent. It often occurs in  hospitalised patients who have been taking a course of antibiotics. This creates major health problems as hospitals are full of sick people, in close proximity to one another, and whose conditions leave them increasingly susceptible to infections such as c diff. The problem is intensified by the fact that clostridium difficile is potentially fatal.

So how does one deal with the clostridium difficile problem? It must be remembered that a very small percentage of the population live quite healthily with c diff inside them. It is a bacterium that lives in the intstines with a whole host of other bacteria. It is these bacteria that keeps the  clostridium difficile in check.

However, the balance is shifted when a cdiff carrier takes a course of antibiotics. While the antibiotics will damage the other bacteria in the gut, they have no affect on the c diff. Indeed, without the other bacteria to control it, the cdiff develops toxins that can cause diarrhoea, fever, and in a worst case scenario a perforated intestine which can be fatal. To make matters worse, the toxins produced by the c diff make the infection contagious, hence it being a particular problem in hospitals.

One of the main ways to deal with the clostridium difficile problem is hygiene. C diff can often withstand ordinary cleaning. So steam cleaning with specialist disinfectants is often required to destroy it. The bedding of a diff infection sufferer must also be thoroughly laundered, and any surfaces where their faeces have come in contact with thoroughly cleansed.

To prevent the infection from spreading personal hygiene is also essential. Visitors and carers to the patient should wash their hands, and if disinfecting gel is available, that also should be used.

As for treating the condition, antibiotics may have caused the clostridium difficile problems, but alternative ones can also cure it. However, there is fair chance that the patient may relapse with even more antibiotics having to be prescribed before the c diff is cured.