Description Bacteria that cause...
Description
Bacteria that cause infection in the large intestine (colitis). It usually occurs 4-5 days after taking a strong antibiotic, and is more commonly found in patients who have been in a hospital or nursing home. Older patients and those with a weakened immune system get more serious infections. The infection may cause just simple diarrhea, or it may cause a life threatening condition. There are an increasing number of cases among hospitalized patients, in which the bacteria in one patient are passed to other patients. This is called a nosocomial infection.
Symptoms
Diarrhea, abdominal cramping and pain, fever, bloody stools, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, fainting.
Tests
Common tests used for diagnosis and treatment
Workup:
A history and physical exam will be performed. A stool sample will be tested to look for the toxins C. difficile produces. A colonoscopy may be done to examine the inside of the colon. Rarely a CT scan will be performed to look for damage done by the infection.
Tests:
Complete blood count (CBC), Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), Clostridium difficile stool culture
Other Specific Tests: CT scan, colonoscopy
Specialists:
Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Family Practice, Pediatric Gastroenterology
Workup:
A history and physical exam will be performed. A stool sample will be tested to look for the toxins C. difficile produces. A colonoscopy may be done to examine the inside of the colon. Rarely a CT scan will be performed to look for damage done by the infection.
Tests:
Complete blood count (CBC), Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), Clostridium difficile stool culture
Other Specific Tests: CT scan, colonoscopy
Specialists:
Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Family Practice, Pediatric Gastroenterology
Treatment
The mainstay of treatment is giving the oral antibiotics metronidazole (Flagyl) or vancomycin (Vancocin). If the diarrhea has been severe the patient may be dehydrated or have problems with the blood chemistry requiring intravenous fluids. Rarely the infection is severe enough to cause a hole in the intestine (perforation) requiring surgical removal of the intestine.