C Diff

Question 1

what is C.Diff?

Answer 1

clostridium difficile colitis
a spore forming anaerobic gram positive bacterium

can exist as part of normal balanced gut flora but the disturbance of normal mixed intestinal biome (due to antibiotics e.g. fluroquinolones, cephalosporins and clindamycin) can blow c.diff to over-run

Question 2

signs and symptoms of colitis

Answer 2

mild diarrhoea
/
severe life threatening colitis

watery stools, mucus, blood, abdominal pain, fever, distinctive foul odor

Question 3

diagnosis of C.diff

Answer 3

stool sample
test for cytopathic c diff toxins

they kill cultured epithelial cells

Question 4

treatment of C.Diff

Answer 4

depends on infection severity

mild: oral metronidazole for 10 days
if failed then can be treated with oral vancmomycin