Clostridium difficile, a bacterium, has become an increasingly common cause of illness. The bacterium typically causes disease in hospitalized patients, those in care facilities or those on antibiotics. Clostridium difficile, abbreviated as C. diff, can also affect otherwise healthy individuals. The infection can lead to death in those with compromised immune systems.
Symptoms
The main symptoms of a C. diff infection are watery diarrhea, fever, anorexia, nausea and abdominal pain. Some patients develop a dilatation of the colon known as toxic megacolon. Sepsis or a blood-borne infection can result from C. diff and can become fatal. Clinical symptoms of C. diff also include blood or pus in the stool and a low-grade fever of around 101 degrees Fahrenheit.
Causes
C. diff is usually the result of prolonged antibiotic use that disrupts the normal bacteria population in the colon. Antibiotics that lead to C. diff include fluoroquinolones, cephalosporins, clindamycin and penicillins. For this reason, physicians may suggest that patients taking these antibiotics also take a probiotic, or eat foods like yogurt that contain active cultures.
Fluids
Adequate fluid intake helps C. diff patients keep up with losses from diarrhea, which can be severe. Drinks that contain electrolytes, such as sports drinks and chicken broth, can help keep up with gastrointestinal losses. Some patients require intravenous fluids to help them stay hydrated. Intravenous fluids are usually given in the hospital. Patients with prolonged infections may require alternative means of nutrition, such as supplements or even IV nutrition known as total parenteral nutrition, or TPN. Intravenous nutrition is typically reserved for patients who have been unable to tolerate a diet for an extended period of time.
Solid Foods
C. diffatients can eat solid foods, as tolerated, unless they have significant abdominal distention, nausea or vomiting. A physician will direct a patient's diet to include safe foods and liquids, as tolerated. Diarrhea can make the intestines sensitive to milk and wheat products because of alterations in the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. C. diff patients should eat high-fiber foods including fruit, corn and wheat bran. Patients typically start with a bland diet, similar to the BRAT diet of bananas, rice, applesauce and toast commonly prescribed for children gastrointestinal illnesses. The BRAT diet should be followed until a short time after the diarrhea resolves, then C. diff patients can start reintroducing other foods.
