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DIFF
1
Every day patients are prescribed antibiotics to treat various infections and
unfortunately diarrhea is a common side effect of the treatment. In most cases, the
diarrhea is self-limiting but in others a more serious infection might be to blame. When a
patient receives an antibiotic the goal is to kill a certain bacteria that is present in the
body, however occasionally the antibiotic can eradicate more than the culprit bacteria that
it was intended for such as those in the human intestines. When the normal and healthy
bacteria in the intestines are killed, more room is made for dangerous bacteria to multiply.
Naturally found in soil, Clostridium difficile is a spore forming bacteria that is
sometimes found in the intestines of a healthy person who has come into contact with it.
The bacteria commonly referred to as C. diff is generally transmitted through a fecal oral
route, however because it is spore forming the bacteria can live on objects for months and
it can lay dormant in the intestines of a person for a lifetime. In instances where a patient
takes an antibiotic that wipes out all the healthy bacteria, or normal flora, then the C. diff
will begin to multiply and take over the intestine. As it begins to take over, the bacteria
release toxins that cause irritation to the intestines that can cause diarrhea and in extreme
cases, a perforated bowel (Walters & Zuckerbraun, 2014).
In a recent study, Walters and Zuckerbraun (2014) estimate that C. diff infections
occur in 500,000 patients treated with antibiotics annually with a 9% mortality rate
among the cases. At this point in time, the patients are treated with a new antibiotic,