Can i catch clostridium difficile

Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health. Learn More Specifics. See, Play and Learn No links available. Research Clinical Trials Journal Articles. Resources Find an Expert. For You Children Patient Handouts. What is C. What causes C. Who is at risk for C. You are at more likely to get a C. The symptoms of C. Signs and symptoms of severe infection include:. Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body's response to an infection damages its own tissues.

People who have these conditions are admitted to the intensive care unit. Some people have loose stools during or shortly after antibiotic therapy. This may be caused by C. See your doctor if you have:. There is a problem with information submitted for this request.

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You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Your in-depth digestive health guide will be in your inbox shortly. You will also receive emails from Mayo Clinic on the latest health news, research, and care. The colon, also called the large intestine, is a long, tube-like organ in your abdomen. The colon carries waste to be expelled from the body.

They can begin reproducing in the small intestine. When they reach the large intestine colon , they can release tissue-damaging toxins. These toxins destroy cells, produce patches of inflammatory cells and cellular debris, and cause watery diarrhea. When the bacteria are outside the colon — virtually anywhere in the environment — they are in a dormant state, or essentially shutdown.

This enables them to survive for a long time in any number of places:. When bacteria once again find their way into a person's digestive system, they "wake up" and can begin to produce infection again.

The ability of dormant C. Although people who have no known risk factors have gotten sick from C. You can develop an infection if you touch a contaminated surface and then touch your mouth.

In addition, the spores of C. As a result, they can stick around for a long time. To diagnose a C. Next, they may order a stool sample. They can analyze it for toxins or toxin genes of the C. If your symptoms are severe, they may also perform a procedure called a sigmoidoscopy. A long, thin device called a sigmoidoscope is inserted into your colon.

This allows your doctor to get a better look at your colon and check for signs of inflammation. Oral fidaxomicin and oral vancomycin are both first-line treatment options for C.

Oral metronidazole is less effective and is used as a suggested alternative treatment for a nonsevere initial C. In most cases, you can take the antibiotics by mouth, which is the standard therapy for the three options noted above. However, some infections might require intravenous IV antibiotic therapy. In the case of someone with recurrent C. As you recover, make sure to drink plenty of fluids. They will watch you for dehydration if you have severe diarrhea.

For severe cases, your doctor may prescribe a day dose of an antibiotic that has proved effective in treating C. Examples include metronidazole and vancomycin. You should improve after 72 hours of starting the medicine, although the diarrhea may continue. While you recover, drink plenty of fluids to replace what your body lost due to diarrhea. Avoid milk products and foods that contain wheat flour or are high in fiber. Your digestive tract may be sensitive to them for a few days.

If your infection gets worse, you may become dehydrated or be unable to pass stool. In rare cases, C. If you have diarrhea and think it could be caused by C. These drugs can make your infection worse. Talk to your doctor before taking any supplements. They can instruct what to take along with antibiotics. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Clostridium difficile infection information. This article was contributed by: familydoctor. This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone.

Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject. There are 3 types of over-the-counter medicines that treat heartburn and acid reflux: antacids, H2 blockers and proton pump…. Pinworm infection is an intestinal infection caused by small, white worms. Giardiasis is an infection you can get in your small intestine. It is caused by a microscopic parasite called…. Visit The Symptom Checker.

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