About this topic
Clostridium difficile is often shortened to C. difficile or just C. diff. It is an infection caused by germs. These germs are often present in the healthy bowel. Other germs in your bowel keep these germs from growing out of control. Things like toilets, thermometers, and bedpans may have these germs living on them. The infection spreads by touching something with the germs on it and then touching some other person. Then, the normal germs of the bowel are upset. C. difficile may grow out of control causing swelling of the large bowel. This results in loose bowels or stools. The infection spreads easily from person to person. ‚
Treatment for C. diff often includes drinking more fluids and taking drugs to treat the infection. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water each day. This may help replace the lost fluids.
- Eat small meals more often.
- Take your drugs as ordered by your doctor.
- Ask your doctor first before taking drugs to stop diarrhea or to treat pain.
- Wash hands often. Be sure family members also wash their hands. Clean door knobs and the flushing handle on your toilet with a bleach mixture.
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to fight an infection. You may need a longer course of antibiotics than normal. Make sure you take all of your drugs as ordered. ‚
Will physical activity be limited?
You may have to limit your activity because you need to be near a bathroom. You may also feel weak for a few days until the infection starts getting better. ‚
What changes to diet are needed?
- Your doctor may suggest a soft or liquid diet until you feel better.
- Your doctor may suggest foods that will help return your bowel to normal. This will help the growth of good germs in your bowel. Some foods that may help are yogurt, dark chocolate, and pickles.
- Avoid spicy food.
- Avoid fatty and greasy food.
What problems could happen?
- Not enough fluid in your body
- Electrolyte imbalance
- Tear or hole in the bowel
- Bad swelling of the large bowel
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Wash your hands often. Good hand washing is the way to stop the spread of this infection.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 15 seconds. Wash your hands after coughing or sneezing. Always wash your hands after using the bathroom or changing diapers. Wash your hands before eating or making food.
- Do not take drugs called antibiotics unless ordered by your doctor.
- Wash countertops, toilets, bathroom surfaces with bleach-based cleaners.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Three or more watery loose stools in a 24-hour period
- Signs of fluid loss. These include dark-colored urine or no urine for more than 8 hours, dry mouth and tongue, dry skin, sunken eyes, lack of energy, feeling faint or passing out.
- Very bad belly pain or bloody loose stools.
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you what I can do to help avoid passing the infection to others.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have belly pain, loose stools, dark colored urine, or bloody stools.
Where can I learn more?
CDC ‚
http://www.cdc.gov/hai/organisms/cdiff/Cdiff-patient.html# ‚
NHS Choices ‚
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Clostridium-difficile/Pages/Introduction.aspx ‚
Public Health Agency of Canada ‚
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/id-mi/cdiff-eng.php ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚