C Diff Research Paper

Clostridium difficile infection or CDI is a disease that is caused from a severe mishap of the microbiota in the gut by antibiotics. This causes the patient to have persistent diarrheal problems from mild symptoms to very extreme and severe symptoms. In the past twenty years, this infection has been on the rise in numbers of problems in public health and has even caused a number of deaths. Although this is not the only infection the transplant can help conquer, C.difficile a great example to portray since in the past ten years it has become a growing health problem.

Clostridium difficile associated disease will resolve when the patient discontinues taking the antibiotics to which he/she has been previously exposed (Nipa, 2010). Administration of a different antibiotic is used to treat the infection (Grossman, 2010). The infection can usually be treated with an appropriate course of about 10 days of antibiotics including metronidazole or vancomycin administered orally (Nipa, 2010). On occasion intravenous vancomycin may be necessary (Gould, 2010). The nurse should ensure patients are not only taking the newly prescribed antibiotic, but also responding to the treatment by showing a decrease in symptoms. Symptoms can recur despite antibiotic therapy, close monitoring is essential. In order to avoid risk of further complications, nursing interventions would include careful assessment of white blood cell count, temperature, and hydration status; meticulous skin care and assistance with bowel elimination given the loose frequent stools; and management of abdominal discomfort (Grossman, 2010).

Clostridium difficile (C. diff) is a type of bacterium that can cause a person to endure diarrhea like symptoms to more drastic symptoms that may involve inflammation of the colon. Most people who come across C. diff are expected to be in a hospital setting for an extensive period of time. It is more accessible to acquire C. diff when a person is of old age, in a hospital setting, and taking antibiotic medication (Mayo Clinic, 2016). Normally, one would think that taking antibiotics would not cause any harm to the body, but would instead help the body fight off diseases. However, once a person who has been taking antibiotics for a long period of time stops taking them, such as in a nursing home or hospital setting, that person can develop some reactions in the absence of those antibiotics (Bartlett, 2012). This reaction, then allows the person to experience diarrhea symptoms, which lead to inflammation of the colon and more drastic colon problems.

Clostridium Difficile (C-Diff) is considered one of the most common infections a patient can acquire within their hospital stay. It is estimated that C-Diff is responsible for 337,000 infections and 14,000 deaths a year (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012). Working in the emergency department (ED), I have witness first hand how debilitating this gastrointestinal infection can be. Patients are admitted to the ED for having severe watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever. Elderly patients are at increase risk for sepsis and dehydration related to recurrent infections. Appropriate management and education of C-Diff is optimal for patient survival and decrease contamination across lifespan.

Clostridium difficile also known as C-diff is a pathogen. According to Doctor Michelle Wright, It lives harmlessly in the gut of many people. About three in hundred healthy adults and as many as seven in ten healthy babies have a number of c difficile bacteria living in their gut (2015). Healthy people normally have a certain number of c-diff bacterium living in their gut, but this bacterium is usually kept in check by all the other harmless bacteria that lives in our gastrointestinal tract. Clostridium difficile

Clostridium difficile involves a gram-positive spore-forming bacterium, which is a normal element of the colon flora in people. The Clostridium difficile can cause antibiotic-associated diarrhea when the competing bacteria in the gut flora are all killed by antibiotic treatment. The Clostridium difficile infection is one of the serious healthcare-related infection and also a rising health care problem. In the early 1970s, the Clostridium difficile has been known to have the ability to cause pseudomembranous colitis. As stated, the infection is the most cause of nosocomial infectious diarrhea (Aktories & Wilkins, 2000). Individuals that are colonized with clostridium difficile serve as the reservoir for infection and this is by contaminating the environment with spores of such bacteria. This will lead to the spread of the organism on the health care worker’s hands or even through the use of medical equipment. In this paper, we are going to focus on the effective prevention strategies for clostridium difficile. What are the effective prevention strategies for clostridium difficile?

Clostridium difficile infection is a suprainfection cause by prolong use of antibiotics. Board spectrum antibiotic such as Penicillins, clindamycin, and cephalosporins are the antimicrobial drugs most commonly associated with C difficile colitis. According to Owens, in his research, C. difficile is primarily acquired in hospitals. Spread by spores, it can colonize a patient’s gut after helpful gut bacteria are killed by antibiotics. Its toxins can cause severe diarrhea and colitis, and it can be fatal (Owens 2013). On the other hand Kim in his research agreed clostridium difficile infection has been considered a hospital-acquired infection. However, a recent population-based study found 41% of CDIs were actually community acquired. It is becoming apparent that community acquired CDI affects populations previously thought to be at low risk; younger patients and patients who had no exposure to antibiotics in the 12 weeks before the infection. Thus, it is necessary to advocate and teach patient about

The article “C. diff always linked to health care,” was written by H. LeWine (2012). The article describes how Clostridium difficile (C. diff) is transmitted because it produces spores that are found in all healthcare settings whether, hospital, nursing homes or doctor's offices. C. diff can cause cramping, diarrhea, fever, and nausea to transpire. Spores can live on your hands and surfaces. Oral-fecal contamination is a common route of infection. Wash your hands well after visiting the bathroom, alcohol based sanitizers will not kill the spores, the best prevention is using traditional methods of soap and water. Surfaces cleaned with non-alcohol based disinfectants. Spores may be difficult to remove from hands even with hand washing, faithfulness to glove use, and contact precautions should are highlighted for preventing C. diff transmission.

Clostridium Difficile, or C. diff, is a common occurrence in hospitals. But how does one know that they are in fact dealing with a patient with C. diff and not just diarrhea? It all lies in the symptoms. C. diff diarrhea has a distinct odor. The patient also feels a constant urgency, a need to always go to the restroom. The stool contains mucous. Beyond that, most patients will present with a low grade fever, mild leukocytosis, hyperactive bowel sounds, and mild abdominal tenderness. (Headly, 461)

Clostridium Difficile is now considered to be one the most important causes of health care-associated infections. C. diff infections are also emerging in the community and in animals used for food, and are no longer viewed simply as unpleasant complications that follow antibiotic therapy. Since 2001, the prevalence and severity of C. diff infection has increased significantly, which has led to research on C. diff. This research summarizes C. diff background, causes, symptoms, infection occurs, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. This will give the reader some type of aspect about C.diff.

The rate of costridium difficile infection has increased in both hospital and community settings during the last two decades. The main caused of C. difficle is inappropriate use of antibiotic usage. Doctors are prescribing antibiotics for virus related SXS and environmental factors. The first step to treating C. difficile is stop taking the antibiotic that triggered the infection. For severe and recurrent cases Doctors usually prescribe Vancomycin according to the CDC. This antibiotic is gradually tapered dose given once every few days. If the antibiotic does not work and C. difficle caused damage to organs and interfere with electrolyte balance than surgery can be done to remove the part of the intestine that is damaged. Another way to treat

Hello Kee. Your topic seems to be noteworthy! I find it interesting how probiotics can help decrease the incidence of C. diff. infection and I look forward to seeing the result of your lit review! It would be great to know that the evidence-based research studies could guide us as care providers in terms of educating our patients about the significance of these dietary supplements to reduce the prevalence of the C. diff. infection. This infection is a huge deal in health care! It causes approximately 500, 000 illnesses in one year, C, diff comes back at least once in 20 percent of the patients who had this infection previously, and it causes fatalities of 15,000 in a year (CDC, n.d.).

Clostridium difficile colitis results from a disruption of the normal bacterial flora of the colon, colonization with C difficile, and the release of toxins that lead to mucosal damage and inflammation. Antibiotic therapy is the key factor that is responsible for altering the colonic flora and allowing C difficile to flourish. Colonization of C difficile occurs through the oral-fecal route after antibiotic therapy has made the bowel susceptible to infection.

The fecal transplant cured the C. difficile bacteria by giving the patient good bacteria like L. reuteri or B .fragilis which sticks to the gut wall and then produces substances that the gut cells need to protect and repair themselves which intend helps fight off the C. difficile bacteria. When the patient got infected by C. difficile bacteria they had low amounts of bacteria so they had no good bacteria to fight off the bad bacteria but when thay had the fecal transplant the C. difficile got fought off by the good bacteria. The patient on week 7 had a low amount of bacteria and had C. difficile and no go bacteria to fight off the C.difficile but since there are low amounts of bacteria C. difficile easily infected there

Most of the public have heard of broad-spectrum drugs, especially in terms of antibiotic resistance, because they fight a wide range of bacteria but also kills normal flora in the gut (Haddox, 2013). The loss of this gut flora can lead to an abnormal growth of harmful bacteria such as clostridium difficile (C-Diff). The four “C” antibiotics that have a high risk for patient to develop C-diff are clindamycin, cephalosporins, coamoxiclav, and ciprofloxacin (Haddox, 2013). These antibiotics have the highest risk of leading to C-diff development, however all antibiotics increase a patient’s likelihood of a C-diff infection. This effect can last up to 12 weeks post antibiotic administration (Haddox, 2013).