Clostridium difficile
Clostridium difficile
C. difficile কী?
Clostridium difficile (সংক্ষেপে C. difficile) একটি ব্যাকটেরিয়া সংক্রমণ, যা অন্ত্রে প্রভাব ফেলে। সাধারণত অ্যান্টিবায়োটিক চিকিৎসার পর এটি মারাত্মক ডায়রিয়ার কারণ হয়ে দাঁড়ায়। এর লক্ষণগুলোর মধ্যে থাকে পানির মতো পাতলা পায়খানা, পেটে খিঁচুনি, পানিশূন্যতা এবং জ্বর। বেশিরভাগ ক্ষেত্রেই এমন অ্যান্টিবায়োটিক দিয়ে চিকিৎসা করা হয়, যা C. difficile ব্যাকটেরিয়াকে ধ্বংস করে।
C. difficile সম্পর্কে জরুরি কিছু তথ্য
- এটি সাধারণত অ্যান্টিবায়োটিক চিকিৎসার সময় বা তার পরে দেখা দেয়
- এর ফলে পানির মতো পাতলা পায়খানা ও পেটে ব্যথা হয়
- ৬৫ বছরের বেশি বয়সীদের মধ্যে এটি বেশি দেখা যায়
- সংস্পর্শের মাধ্যমে এটি সহজেই ছড়াতে পারে
- চিকিৎসায় সাধারণত ভালো সাড়া মেলে
- প্রতি ৫ জনের মধ্যে প্রায় ১ জনের ক্ষেত্রে লক্ষণগুলো আবার ফিরে আসে
C. difficile নিয়ে প্রায়ই জিজ্ঞাসিত প্রশ্নাবলি
Common Symptoms
⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.
Medicines Commonly Used
⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.
No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.
When to See a Doctor
When should I phone my GP?
You should phone your GP if you have severe diarrhoea, dehydration, fainting, severeabdominal pain or a high fever.
When should I get help with a C. difficile infection?
Phone your GP if:
- you have persistent diarrhoea after finishing a course of antibiotics
- you have bloody diarrhoea
- you have diarrhoea and experience severe 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.
Visiting your GP surgery with a possible C. difficile infection can put others at risk, so it’s best to phone your GP or NHS 111 if you’re concerned or feel you need advice.
Diarrhoea can be caused by a number of conditions and is a common side effect of antibiotics, so having diarrhoea while taking antibiotics doesn’t necessarily mean you have a C. difficile infection.
Your GP may suggest sending off a sample of your poo 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
Can antibiotics cause C. difficile?
Yes. Antibiotics can disrupt normal bacteria in your bowel bacteria. That allows the C. difficile bacteria to multiply. That then produces the toxins that make you ill.
Do you need antibiotics to treat C. difficile?
Yes. In most cases it’s treated with antibiotics that kill the C. difficile bacteria.
Is C. difficile contagious?
Yes. The infection spreads through resistant cells (spores) that can live on hands, surfaces and clothing.
How long does C. difficile last?
Most people recover from a C. difficile infection within 1-2 weeks after treatment begins.
How do you treat C. difficile?
Your GP will decide whether you need hospital treatment (if you’re not already in hospital). If the infection is relatively mild, you may be treated at home.
If you’re in hospital, you might 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:
- stopping the antibiotics thought to be causing the infection, if possible – in mild cases, this may be the only treatment that’s needed
- taking a 10 to 14-day course of antibiotics that are known to kill C. difficile bacteria
- rarely, serious infections may require surgery to remove a damaged section of the bowel
C. difficile infections usually 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.
Can I look after myself at home with C. difficile?
If you’re well enough to be treated at home, the following measures can help relieve your symptoms and prevent the infection spreading.
Do
- make sure you finish the entire course of any antibiotics you’re prescribed, even if you’re 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
Don’t
- 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 you’re getting better. Phone them if your symptoms return after treatment finishes, as it may need to be repeated.
How do you get C. difficile?
C. difficile bacteria are found in the digestive system of about 1 in every 30 healthy adults. The bacteria often 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 in the bowel, which can cause the C. difficile bacteria to multiply and 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 person’s 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 they’re 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 do you stop C. difficile spreading?
C. difficile infections can be passed on very easily. You can reduce your risk of picking it up or spreading it by practising good hygiene, both at home and 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 toilet and before eating – use liquid rather than bar soap and don’t use flannels or nail brushes
- clean contaminated surfaces – such as the toilet, flush handle, light switches and door handles – with a bleach-based cleaner after each use
- don’t share towels and flannels
- wash contaminated clothes and sheets separately from other washing at the highest possible temperature
- when visiting someone in hospital, observe any visiting 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 – don’t rely on alcohol hand gels, as they’re not effective against C. difficile
- avoid visiting hospital if you’re feeling unwell or have recently had diarrhoea
Don’t include personal information e.g. name, location or any personal health conditions.