I am no expert by far, but my mom had c-diff several times and we were told it was from the over use of certain antibiotics, after yrs of this problem they finally started using sulfate antibiotics (not exactly sure what they are) >From what I understood at the time is that C-Diff is contagious especially to caregivers, and generally a person who has been on an antibiotic treatment who's system is already run down is prone to this bacteria going haywire. Hope this below helps Penny Clostridium difficile Introduction Clostridium difficile (C. diff) is a _bacterium_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Bacteria) that is present naturally in the _gut_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Stomach) of around 3% of adults and 66% of children. C. diff doesn't cause any problems in healthy people. However, some _antibiotics_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Antibiotic) that are used to treat other health conditions can interfere with the balance of good _bacteria_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Bacteria) in the _gut_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Stomach) . When this happens, C. diff _bacteria_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Bacteria) can multiply and cause symptoms such as _diarrhoea_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Diarrhoea) and _fever_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Fever) . Because C. diff infections are usually caused by _antibiotics_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Antibiotic) , most cases usually happen in a healthcare environment such as a hospital or care home. Older people are most at risk from infection, with the majority of cases (80%) occurring in people over the age of 65. Most people with a C. diff infection make a full recovery. However, in very rare cases the infection can be fatal. The number of C. diff cases has risen from 22,000 a year in 2002 to almost 45,000 in 2004. One of the main reasons for this rise is the improvement in tests to diagnose the infection, but there has clearly been an increase in the number of cases. C. diff infections can be prevented by good hygiene practices in healthcare environments. However, it is extremely _contagious_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Contagious) and is spread very easily. Symptoms The symptoms of C. difficile (C. Diff) infection can include: * mild to severe _diarrhoea_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Diarrhoea) , * _blood_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Blood) stained _stools_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Stool) , * _fever_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Fever) , and * abdominal cramps. These symptoms are usually caused by colitis (_inflammation_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Inflammation) of the lining of the small intestine). In rare cases, C. diff can cause an infection of the lining in the abdomen (peritonitis) and _blood_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Blood) poisoning (septicaemia). In very rare cases, a C. diff infection can be fatal. The risk of this is higher in elderly people and people who have other very serious health conditions. Most people who get a C. diff infection will get symptoms while they are taking _antibiotics_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Antibiotic) . However, symptoms can appear up to 10 weeks after they have finished taking _antibiotics_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Antibiotic) . Causes C. difficile (C. diff) is an anaerobic _bacterium_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Bacteria) . This means that it doesn't need _oxygen_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Oxygen) to survive and multiply (reproduce). Therefore it usually survives well in the large intestine, where there is very little _oxygen_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Oxygen) available. C. diff doesn't usually affect healthy children and adults, because the healthy good _bacteria_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Bacteria) in the intestine keep it in check. However, some _antibiotics_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Antibiotic) can interfere with this healthy balance of _bacteria_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Bacteria) . When this happens, C. diff can begin to multiply and produce toxins (poisons). At this point, a person is said to be infected with C. diff. Once C. diff _bacteria_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Bacteria) start to produce toxins, the _bacteria_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Bacteria) can then spread easily. This is because it can produce spores even when exposed to unfavourable conditions, such as being outside of the body. Spores are what _bacteria_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Bacteria) produce so they can multiply. C. diff spores leave the body in an infected persons _diarrhoea_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Diarrhoea) . The spores can then contaminate their surroundings, such as toilets, bedclothes, skin and clothing. The spores can also be spread through the air (during bed-making for example). The spores are able to survive for a long time outside of the body unless they are destroyed through very thorough cleaning. This means anyone who comes into contact with contaminated surfaces can easily spread the infection. The spores can then infect other people by entering the body through the mouth. People most vulnerable to a C. diff infection are those who: * have been treated with broad spectrum _antibiotics_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Antibiotic) (_antibiotics_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Antibiotic) that can treat different types of _bacteria_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Bacteria) ), * have had to stay for a long time in a healthcare setting, such as a hospital, * are over 65 years old, * have a serious underlying illness or condition, * have a weakened _immune system_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Immune system) , or * have had numerous _enemas_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Enema) or _gut_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Stomach) surgery. Most infections occur in places where many people are taking _antibiotics_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Antibiotic) , and in close contact with each other, such as hospitals and nursing homes. However, a number of precautions can be put in place to help reduce the spread of the infection (see the prevention section). People who have C. diff naturally in their _gut_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Stomach) cannot spread the _bacteria_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Bacteria) unless the _bacteria_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Bacteria) start producing toxins. This is why many people have the _bacteria_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Bacteria) in their body, but do not have any symptoms. Treatment C. difficile can be treated with certain _antibiotics_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Antibiotic) , and in some cases, probiotic (good _bacteria_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Bacteria) ) treatments may be prescribed. Prevention Unfortunately, C. difficile (C. diff) _bacteria_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Bacteria) can spread easily, particularly in healthcare environments. However, a number of precautions can be taken to reduce the risk of infection. Advice for visitors If you are visiting a person in a healthcare environment who has _diarrhoea_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Diarrhoea) or a _stomach_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Stomach) upset, try to avoid taking any children under the age of 12 with you. You should also: * wash your hands with soap and water when entering and leaving ward areas and, in addition to using soap and water, you should also use a alcohol hand gel, if available, * avoid healthcare environments if you are feeling unwell or have recently had _diarrhoea_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Diarrhoea) , * avoid sitting on beds, and * observe visiting hours and guidelines. Healthcare environments Healthcare workers should wear disposable aprons when caring for anyone who has a C. difficile infection. Whenever possible, people who are infected with C. difficile will have their own room and own toilet facilities to avoid passing the infection to others. Staff, patients and visitors should be encouraged to wash their hands regularly and thoroughly. Thorough cleaning using water and detergent is an effective way of killing any spores that have transferred onto a person's skin or clothes. Alcohol hand gel should also be used. However, it does not kill the spores so the additional use of water and detergent is essential. Surfaces that may have come into contact with the _bacteria_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Bacteria) or spores, such as toilets, the floor around toilets, bedpans, and beds, should also be cleaned thoroughly with water and disinfectant. Antibiotics The Department of Health also advises that doctors prescribe _antibiotics_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Antibiotic) cautiously, to try to reduce the amount of broad spectrum _antibiotics_ (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/glossary/#Antibiotic) being given to patients. This is to help cut down the number of people who are vulnerable to an infection.
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