Treatment of Clostridium Difficile Infection

Clostridium difficile infection treatment involves the use of antibiotics to target the bacteria causing the infection. In severe cases, fecal microbiota transplantation may be considered.
Category
Medical Treatment
Where to get
Available in hospitals and healthcare facilities
Prepared by Shruti Sahoo, reviewed by Dr. Eugene Smith

Clostridium Difficile Infection Treatment FAQ


Image credit: uspharmacist.com

What is Clostridioides difficile?

Clostridioides difficile (formerly known as Clostridium difficile) infection, often called C. diff, is a bacterial infection in the gut. C. diff is a type of bacteria that can commonly transmit the infection to individuals in health care settings, such as hospitals, rehab facilities, and skilled nursing facilities.

How is C diff treated?

Alternatively, treatment with the antibiotics metronidazole and fidaxomicin are also commonly used for infection with C. diff. All of these antibiotics are given orally, via pills that you can swallow, so the medication can pass through the digestive system and reach the colon.

How do you treat a C difficile infection that comes back?

Treatment for C. difficile infection that comes back might include the following: Antibiotics. Treatment for repeat infections may involve one or more courses of an antibiotic. The antibiotic is often different from the one used at first. Antibiotic therapy works less well each time the infection comes back. Antibody-based therapy.

How do you get rid of C difficile spores?

clean contaminated surfaces with a chemical disinfectant that can kill the C. difficile spores, for example household bleach. If a person with C. difficile infection is being managed in a residential care facility or hospital, the Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare (2019) recommend:

How is Clostridium difficile treated?

Newer treatment methods, such as narrow-spectrum antibiotics, monoclonal antibodies, and microbial replacement therapies, are being developed and implemented. We searched PubMed to identify published literature from 2010 to 2018 using the following keywords: Clostridium difficile, treatment, and therapy.

Do I need special care if I have a Clostridium difficile infection?

People who have had Clostridium dificile infection in hospital do not need special care when they return home, but should continue good hand hygiene. You may be discharged before your course of antibiotics is finished. It is important to finish the whole course.

How is C difficile treated in a hospital?

When possible patients with C. difficile infection will be put in a single room or cared for in certain areas of the hospital. Healthcare staff will wash their hands with soap and water or alcohol based hand rubs based on the care they are providing, including before putting on and after taking off their gloves and aprons.

Clostridium Difficile Infection Treatment References

If you want to know more about Clostridium Difficile Infection Treatment, consider exploring links below:

Explore Related Topics

What are the long-term risks of frequent antibiotic use for gastrointestinal issues?

Delve into the potential long-term consequences of frequent antibiotic use in managing gastrointestinal infections and share perspectives on the risks involved.