Clostridium Difficile
When to get medical advice
Source: NHS
In this topic (8)
Visiting your GP surgery with a possible C. difficile infectioncan put others at risk, so it's best to call your GP or NHS 111 if you're concerned or feel you need advice.
Get medical advice if:
- you have persistent diarrhoea after finishinga course ofantibiotics
- you have bloody diarrhoea
- you have diarrhoea andexperiencesevere tummy pain,a high fever, a rapid heart rate or fainting
- you have symptoms of severe dehydration , such as confusion, drowsiness, only passing small amounts of urine or no urine at all
Diarrhoea can be caused by a number of conditions and isa common side effect of antibiotics, so having diarrhoea while taking antibiotics doesn't necessarily mean you have aC. difficile infection.
Your GP may suggest sending off a sample of yourpoo to confirm whether you have C. difficile. A blood test may also be carried out to help determine how severe the infection is, and sometimes you may need tests or scans in hospital to check if your bowel is damaged.
Articles for Clostridium Difficile
How to stop C. difficile spreading
C.difficileinfections canbe passed onvery easily. You can reduce your risk of picking it up or spreading it by practising good hygiene, both at homeand in healthcare settings. The following measures
How you get C. difficile
C. difficile bacteria are found in thedigestive systemof about 1 in every 30 healthy adults. The bacteriaoften live harmlessly because the other bacteria normally found in the bowel keep it under cont
Introduction
Clostridium difficile, also known as C. difficile or C. diff, is a bacterium that can infect the bowel and cause diarrhoea. Find out what the symptoms are, who's most at risk and how it's treated.
Looking after yourself at home
If you're well enough to be treated at home, the following measures can helprelieve your symptoms and prevent the infection spreading: make sure you finish the entire course of any antibiotics you'r
Symptoms of a C. difficile infection
Symptoms of a C. difficileinfection usually develop when you're taking antibiotics, or when you've finished taking them within the last few weeks. The most common symptoms are: watery diarrhoea , w
Treatment for C. difficile
Your GP will decide whether you need hospital treatment (if you're not already in hospital). Ifthe infection isrelatively mild, you may be treated at home. If you're in hospital, youmight be moved to
When to get medical advice
Visiting your GP surgery with a possible C. difficile infectioncan put others at risk, so it's best to call your GP or NHS 111 if you're concerned or feel you need advice. Get medical advice if: yo
Who's most at risk of C. difficile?
C. difficile mostly affects people who: have been treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics (antibiotics that work againstseveral types of bacteria) or several different antibiotics at the same time,
