Clostridium difficile, also known as C. difficile or C. diff, is a bacterium which often causes diarrhea and inflammation of the colon. C. difficile is highly contagious in people with a compromised immune system and commonly occurs in people who have an illness that requires long-term antibiotic use or in elderly patients in hospitals or nursing homes. According to the National Institutes of Health, symptoms of C. difficile include fever, loss of appetite, nausea and abdominal pain and tenderness. Untreated C. difficile may lead to life-threatening complications.
Metronidazole
Physicians commonly use metronidazole to treat mild cases of C. difficile, according to the MayoClinic.com. Metronidazole is an antibiotic medication often used to treat inflammatory bowel disease, giardiasis, gastritis due to H. pylori and dental infections as well as antibiotic-associated C. difficile. Metronidazole works by killing bacteria or preventing their growth. The medication is available as a tablet, capsule, solution, powder and liquid suspension. MayoClinic.com explains that when treating a bacterial infection such as C. difficile, patients commonly take medication orally every six hours for seven days. Side effects of metronidazole may include diarrhea, dizziness, headache, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and stomach pain or cramps.
Vancomycin
Vancomycin belongs to a class of medications known as glycopeptides antibiotics; physicians commonly use it for severe C. difficile infections. Oral vancomycin works by killing the intestinal bacteria that cause C. difficile. Physicians often prescribe vancomycin orally three to four times a day for seven to 10 days when treating for C. difficile. The National Institutes of Health explains that while vancomycin works to kill bacteria in the intestines it will not work on bacteria in any other part of the body when taken orally. Patients taking vancomycin commonly experience nausea and vomiting. Vancomycin may cause potentially serious side effects such as ringing in the ears, fainting, dizziness, blurred vision, unusual bruising or bleeding, hives, itching, fever and chills. Patients should alert their physician if they experience these symptoms.
Probiotics
Physicians often suggest probiotics in the treatment of C. difficile to help restore the body’s healthy intestinal flora. The human body is full of beneficial bacteria that help the body maintain the immune system, protect against disease-causing microorganisms and aid in digestion and absorption of nutrients. When a person takes antibiotics to kill unhealthy bacteria they also inadvertently destroy many of the beneficial bacteria that help maintain the proper balance in the body, leaving patients vulnerable to a number of opportunistic illnesses such as C. difficile and yeast infections. Probiotics are live microorganisms which can help restore the natural balance in the body. People do not need a prescription to take probiotics and they can commonly be found in health food and supplement shops.
