Diarrhoea, other than food poisoning - Clostridium difficile infection

2018-02-20

Diarrhoea can be a consequence of food poisoning, food allergy, and also Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). CDI is a common hospital acquired infection. The spore of this organisms can survive in the environment for few months. Healthcare workers or visitors may get comtaminated by these bacterial spore and spred the grems.

In healthy individual, this bacterial may be presented in the gut but do not cause infection. This is because our gut normal flora prevent them from establishing an infection process. However if we lost the gut flora, CDI may occur. One of the main resaon why we lost our gut flora is the extended use of broad spectrum antibiotic when a patient is hospitalized, and this is why CDI occurs mainly in hospital environment. A recent local study stated that over 90% CDI has been classified as hospital acquired.

link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/23/10/17-0797_article

Bloody diarrhoea with fever are the main symtoms of CDI. Serious complication including sepsis, organ failure and death. Treatment options include specific antibiotic treatment or simply restore the gut flora by withdrawal any antibiotic prescription. A new IDSA guidline on CDI management has just published.

link: http://www.idsociety.org/Guidelines/Patient_Care/IDSA_Practice_Guidelines/Infections_By_Organ_System-81567/Gastrointestinal/Clostridium_difficile/

Keeping good personal hygiene is essential and effective to prevent the contacting and spreading of the bacteria. Contact precaution must be practised in all health care settings and visitors should wash their hands frequently when in contact with the hospital environment.