C. Difficile Colitis Case Studies

Physical Examination: General: The patient is an alert, oriented male appearing his stated age. He appears to be in moderate distress. Vital signs: blood pressure 132/78 and pulse 68 and regular. Temperature is 38.56 oC (101.4 oF). HEENT:Normocephalic, atraumatic. Pupils were equal, round, and reactive to light. Ears are clear. Throat is normal. Neck: The neck is supple with no carotid bruits. Lungs: The lungs are clear to auscultation and percussion. Heart: Regular rate and rhythm. Abdomen:Bowel sounds are normal. There is rebound tenderness with maximal discomfort on palpation in the right lower quadrant. Extremities: No clubbing, cyanosis, or edema.

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.

Patient is a 60 year old gentleman with PMH significant for CVA with residual left side weakness and speech difficulties, IDDM2, HFrEF (15% in March 2017 per cardiac Cath, and 32% per TTE 3/23/17 ), and CAD/MI s/p DES X 2 to the LAD (Tampa VA in 2012, 3/2017 at Florida Hospital), presenting initially to OVAMC on 5/19/17 with left hip pain after a mechanical fall at home. He had an MI in late March 2017, at which time he had a DES placed in the proximal-mid LAD (LHC also revealed a LV apical thrombus – 1.6 x 1.4 cm). His EF at that time was reportedly 15% per LHC, and it was suggested he get a Life Vest prior to discharge. Patient subsequently left AMA, without a Life Vest and without prescriptions (including the one

Patient is a high school counselor. He participates in physical activities by running 2 to 3 times a week, playing golf, and volunteering at a nursing home. The patient is married with one daughter and one son. He does not use tobacco and periodically drinks at

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.

Many Americans die each year from complications connected to Clostridium difficile. It can ill a significant number of individuals as well as animals. The Clostridium difficile infection is the result of poor hygiene, misuse, overuse of antibiotics and an aging population. In this paper I will be discussing the following topics, what clostridium difficile means, what it causes, signs and symptoms, complications, treatment and the prevention.

On Exam:  BP today was 140/86. Head and neck exam was all clear. She had no oral or nasal ulcers. She had no lymphadenopathy or bruits. Heart sounds were normal and the chest seemed clear, as did the abdominal exam. Musculoskeletal exam disclosed widespread Heberden's and Bouchard's nodes. She had no swelling or stress pain at the MCPs. She was not tender at the CMC joints. She had no swelling in the wrist, elbows or shoulders. She had no soft tissue tender points. She has bilateral knee crepitus but only slight instability and no effusions. She had actually good range of movement of both hips. She was tender in the lumber spine and has a scar at the lower lumbar spine from her previous operations. Her feet are somewhat flat with tenderness across the

Clostridium difficile, a nosocomial pathogen, is of critical importance. By 2010 it was the most prevalent healthcare-related pathogen globally [1], accounting for 20-30% of antibiotic-associated diarrheal cases in healthcare settings [2]. Symptoms of C. difficile infection (CDI) are significant and include severe diarrhea and dehydration. In more serious cases, CDI can result in pseudomembranous colitis, bowel perforation, sepsis and even death [3, 4].Beyond serious impact upon patients, CDI is costing multiple billions of dollars in hospital care in the United States alone [5]. Clearly the need exists to identify and characterize the infection and toxicity pathways of C. difficile.

Clostridium difficile is a gram-positive bacterium which causes diarrhoea. It also known as antibiotic associated diarrhoea and also pseudomembranous colitis. The bacterium secretes large protein toxin that also causes toxic mega colon. Clostridium difficile is caused by when a person is given one of the following antibiotics: Cephalosporin, penicillin (particularly Ampicillin or Amoxicillin), Clindamycin and Fluoroquinolone. The antibiotic will remove the entire normal flora in the colon. The lack of normal flora will make the person vulnerable to infection especially to Clostridium difficile because Clostridium difficile produces hardy spores

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

Clostridium difficile has infected up to 500,000 people in the United States every year. Clostridium difficile is a bacterial infection it can cause diarrhea and also a fever. It has also caused death among people. There has been a recorded 14,000 deaths from Clostridium difficile a year.

Clostridium difficile is an obligate anaerobe, gram positive bacteria that has the ability to form spores. Clostridium difficile is the leading cause of nosocomial antibiotic associated diarrhea worldwide. C. difficile is an opportunist pathogen that utilizes many factors to infect and damage the host, often with overwhelming consequences. Symptoms range in severity from mild diarrhea to pseudomembranous colitis and toxic megacolon, the most severe form of disease, which often results in death (Awad, 2014).

I really enjoyed reading your response to DQ and how well you discribe Crohn and ulcerative colititis. I also wrote similar discription but I includded the part about family history of having ulcerative colititis and especially from a Jewish descent. Both of these diseases similar symptoms so mecidcal evaluation would have to be done to get the right diagnoses. Crohn disease is also associated with smoking and it is silently increase in women than

In reading the statistics regarding the prevalence of Microscopic Colitis, this affliction appears to occur most frequently to people aged 50 to 70 and more often to women than to men. This age group entered early adult hood in the 1960s-1970s. In this era, smoking was a socially acceptable habit. In 2016, smoking is strongly discouraged and most individuals in the 60+ age group have proudly given up the smoking habit. Could cessation behavior be responsible for the age onset of this condition? Could the fact that a smaller percentage of younger adults currently smoke result in a decrease in future cases of microscopic colitis?

The gastrointestinal tract is home to up 1,000 species of microorganisms! Most of these organisms are harmless and even aid the body in normal circumstances, but when the balances of these organisms become upset the once harmless bacteria can grow ramped and make you sick. Ratini (2015) states that one of the worst attackers is a bacterium called Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) . As this bacterium grows out of control, it releases toxins that attack the lining of the intestines, which causes a condition called Clostridium difficile colitis. Although this bacterium is more rare than other intestinal bacteria, C. difficile is one of the most popular causes of infectious diarrhea in the U.S. C. difficile infection can range from causing minor discomfort to life-threatening. Ratini (2015) also says some symptoms of mild cases include watery diarrhea; three or more times a day for several days, with abdominal pain or tenderness. In more severe cases, C. difficile infection symptoms include watery diarrhea, up to 15 times a day, severe abdominal pain, loss of appetite, fever, blood in stool, and weight loss. In some rare cases, C. difficile leads to a hole in the intestines, which can be fatal if it is not treated. C. difficile can be diagnosed by analyzing stool in the specimens tested for the toxins. Ratini (2015) says that in rare cases, a colonoscopy may be required to ensure that one is actually suffering from C. difficile infection.