Clostridium difficile

Clostridium difficile | NHS inform Home Illnesses and conditions Symptoms and self-help Tests and treatments Healthy living Care, support and rights Scotlands Service Directory 0 Home Illnesses and conditions Infections and poisoning Clostridium difficile Clostridium difficile Clostridium difficile, also known as C. difficile or C. diff, is a bacterium that can infect the bowel and cause diarrhoea. The infection most commonly affects people who have recently been treated with antibiotics , but can spread easily to others. C. difficileinfections are unpleasant and can sometimescauseserious bowel problems, butthey can usually be treated with another course of antibiotics. Symptoms of a C. difficile infection Symptoms of a C. difficileinfection usually develop when youre taking antibiotics, or when youve finished taking them within the last few weeks. The most common symptoms are: watery diarrhoea , which can be bloody painful tummy cramps feeling sick signs of dehydration , such asa dry mouth , headaches and peeing less often than normal a high temperature (fever) of above 38C (100.4F) loss of appetite and weight loss Insome cases, serious complications can develop, such as damage to the bowel or severe dehydration, which may causedrowsiness, confusion, a rapid heart rate and fainting. Whos most at risk of C. difficile? C. difficile mostly affects people who: have been treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics (antibiotics that work againstseveral types of bacteria) or several different antibiotics at the same time, or thosetakinglong-term antibiotics have had to stayin a healthcare setting, such as a hospital or care home, for a long time are over 65 years old havecertain underlyingconditions, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), cancer or kidney disease have a weakened immune system, which can be because of a condition such as diabetes or a side effect of a treatment such as chemotherapy or steroid medication are takinga medication called a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) to reduce the amount of stomach acid they produce have had surgery on their digestive system Many C. difficile infections used to occur in places where many people take antibiotics and are in close contact with each other, such as hospitals andcare homes. However, strict infection control measures have helped to reduce this risk, and an increasingnumber of C. difficile infections now occur outside these settings. When to get medical advice Visiting your GP surgery with a possible C. difficile infectioncan put others at risk, so its best to phone your GP or NHS 111 if youre concerned or feel you need advice. Phone your GP if: you have persistent diarrhoea after finishinga course ofantibiotics you have bloody diarrhoea you have diarrhoea andexperiencesevere tummy pain,a high fever, a rapid heart rate or fainting you have symptoms of severe dehydration , such as confusion, drowsiness, only passing small amounts of urine or no urine at all If your GP is closed, phone 111. Diarrhoea can be caused by a number of conditions and isa common side effect of antibiotics, so having diarrhoea while taking antibiotics doesnt necessarily mean you have aC. difficile infection. Your GP may suggest sending off a sample of yourpoo to confirm whether you have C. difficile. A blood test may also be carried out to help determine how severe the infection is, and sometimes you may need tests or scans in hospital to check if your bowel is damaged. Treatment for C. difficile Your GP will decide whether you need hospital treatment (if youre not already in hospital). Ifthe infection isrelatively mild, you may be treated at home. If youre in hospital, youmight be moved to a room of your own during treatment to reduce the risk of the infection spreading to others. Treatment for C. difficile can include: stoppingthe antibiotics thought to be causing the infection, if possible  in mild cases, this may be the only treatment thats needed taking a 10 to 14-day course of antibiotics that are known to kill C. difficile bacteria rarely,seriousinfections mayrequiresurgery to remove a damaged section of the bowel C. difficile infectionsusually respond well to treatment, with most people making a full recovery in a week or two. However, the symptoms come back in around 1 in 5 cases and treatment may need to be repeated. Looking after yourself at home If youre well enough to be treated at home, the following measures can helprelieve your symptoms and prevent the infection spreading. Do make sure you finish the entire course of any antibiotics youre prescribed, even if youre feeling better drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration and eat plain foods such as soup, rice, pasta and bread if you feel hungry take paracetamol for tummy pain or a fever regularly wash your hands and contaminated surfaces, objects or sheets stay at home until at least 48 hours after your last episode of diarrhoea Dont do not take anti-diarrhoeal medication, as this can stop the infection being cleared from your body Your GP may contact you regularly to make sure youre getting better. Phone them if your symptoms return after treatment finishes, as it may need to be repeated. How you get C. difficile C. difficile bacteria are found in thedigestive systemof about 1 in every 30 healthy adults. The bacteriaoften live harmlessly because the other bacteria normally found in the bowel keep it under control. However, some antibiotics can interfere with the balance of bacteria inthe bowel, whichcan cause the C. difficile bacteria to multiplyand produce toxins that make the person ill. When this happens, C. difficile can spread easily to other people because the bacteria are passed out of the body in the persons diarrhoea. Once out of the body, the bacteria turn into resistant cells called spores. These can survive for long periods on hands, surfaces (such as toilets), objects and clothing unless theyre thoroughly cleaned, and can infect someone else if they get into their mouth. Someone with a C. difficile infection is generally considered to be infectious until at least 48 hours after their symptoms have cleared up. How to stop C. difficile spreading C.difficileinfections canbe passed onvery easily. You can reduce your risk of picking it up or spreading it by practising good hygiene, both at homeand in healthcare settings. The following measures can help: stay at home until at least 48 hours after your symptoms have cleared up wash your hands regularly with soap and water, particularly after going to the toiletand before eating use liquid rather than bar soap and dont use flannels or nail brushes clean contaminated surfacessuch as the toilet, flush handle, light switches and door handleswith a bleach-based cleaner after each use dont share towels and flannels wash contaminated clothes and sheets separately from other washing at the highest possible temperature when visiting someone in hospital,observe anyvisiting guidelines, avoid taking any children under the age of 12, and wash your hands with liquid soap and water when entering and leaving ward areas dont rely on alcohol hand gels, as theyre not effective against C. difficile avoid visiting hospitalif youre feeling unwell or have recently had diarrhoea Source: NHS 24 - Opens in new browser window Last updated: 29 May 2023 How can we improve this page? 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