Clostridium Difficlie (C diff) Clostridium Difficlie, also known as C diff, is a bacterium infection that has symptoms of diarrhea but can also have life threatening inflammation of the colon (staff, 2012). C. diff most commonly affects older adults primarily those that are hospitalized or in a long term care setting (staff, 2012). “An epidemic of Clostridium difficle in the United States is now killing some 12,000 patients annually, in part because neither alcohol rubs nor soap and water used in the vast majority of hospitals can effectively remove the spore-forming bacillus from the hands of health care workers, researchers are finding” (Hand hygiene woes impact C.diff response, 2010,pg 76).Let’s explore Clostridium difficle a little, how it is transmitted, the environmental factors, standard treatments and ways to help prevent the spread of Clostridium Difficlie.
Clostridium Difficlie bacteria are passed in feces and thru food, they are also on surfaces or objects where people fail to wash their hands when they are infected. These bacteria spores can last in a room for weeks or even months so if you touch an infected surface you can unknowingly ingest the bacteria (staff, 2012). Normally healthy people don’t get sick from the bacteria because your body contains many types of bacteria that will fight off the infection. However, many people get C. diff following a treatment with antibiotics. “The antibiotics that most often lead to C. difficle infections include fluoroquinolones, cephalosporins, clindamycin and penicillins” (staff, 2012,pg 1). The majority of C diff cases occur in a healthcare setting and are spread from person to person but can also be found on bedside tables, handrails, door knobs, toilets, sinks telephones, remote controls or any other place an infected person may have touched without proper hand washing. “In its spore form, C. diff is perfectly adapted for dispersal on hands and surfaces, where it can survive for prolonged periods in patient rooms and on medical equipment unless physically removed or killed by powerful solutions like bleach” (Hand hygiene ineffectiveness, confusion undercut response to deadly C.diff epidemic: hospitals, nursing homes will sink or swim together, 2010,pg51) However, C. diff is not limited to the healthcare setting it can be found throughout our environment as well such as in our air, water, soil, as well as human and animal feces (staff, 2012). Now that we are aware of where C. diff can be acquired, how is it treated? It many cases it is enough to just remove the antibiotic that the patient was on at the time they contracted C. diff and allow their own bodies immunities to kick in and fight the bacteria. If further treatment is warranted, C. diff is treated with antibiotics such as Flagyl for mild to moderate cases. Vacomycin is prescribed for more severe cases, along with some probiotics to restore a healthy balance to the intestinal tract. In very severe cases, surgery to remove the infected section of the colon may be required. The important piece is for the intestinal tract to restore its normal bacteria so that it can help fight future potential infections.
However, the biggest step in treatment is prevention or prevention of reinfection of C.diff. Using bleach wipes on all surfaces everyday can rid the sources of the bacteria and prevent further spread of the bacteria (New C. diff guidelines hone testing, prevention: approaches vary widely on isolation duration, 2010). Environmental efforts will have a huge impact on successful outcomes of future infections of C. diff. It is also important that everyone utilize the standard universal precautions. It is important to institute a good hand washing routines when dealing with patients infected with C. diff to prevent further spread of the bacteria. In many situations, it may be necessary to utilize contact isolation procedures until the C. diff has been cleared to prevent the spread of the infection to others.
Clostridium Difficlie can be a deadly illness if not taken seriously and treated appropriately. Although it primarily affects older individuals that are institutionalized it can infect anyone that comes into contact with the bacteria. “Nursing home-onset C. diff infections were estimated at a staggering 263,000 cases annually, with 16,500 deaths and costs of $2.2 billion. All told, that’s in the ballpark of half-million cases and 25,000 deaths in hospitals and nursing homes every year in the United States” (Hand hygiene woes impact C.diff response, 2010,pg77). With that being said, I think that it is very important for all healthcare workers to actively work to have better practices to control this disease process.

References

Hand hygiene ineffectiveness, confusion undercut response to deadly C.diff epidemic: hospitals, nursing homes will sink or swim together. (2010). Hosptial Infection control & Prevention, 37(5), 49-54.
Hand hygiene woes impact C.diff response. (2010). Hospice Management Advisor, 15(7), 76-78.
New C. diff guidelines hone testing, prevention: approaches vary widely on isolation duration. (2010). Hospital Infection Control & Prevention, 37(6), 65-68. staff, M. c. (2012, September 15). C.difficile. Retrieved from Mayo Clinic: www.mayoclinic.com/health/c-difficile/DS00736