The words “colon infection” can cover a range different colon problems.
When used by medical professionals however, these words usually refer to an infection caused by the Clostridium difficile bacteria (also called C. difficile or just C. diff).
Those most likely to get a colon infection from Clostridium difficile are seniors who are in a hospital or living in a nursing home or long term care facility. The reason they get these infections is the fact that they’re taking antibiotics to cope with some other health problem.
The problem occurs because antibiotics not only kill bacteria that cause sickness – they also kill bacteria in our intestines which help us digest our food properly. When there are not enough helpful kinds of bacteria in the intestines, it’s easier for Clostridium difficile to get established. When Clostridium difficile grows, it produces toxins that damage cells in the lining of the intestines and colon. The result is inflammation and pain.
If your colon infection is fairly mild, it will probably go away when you stop taking the antibiotic. In cases wher the colon infection is more severe, however, a different type of antibiotic may be necessary to kill C. diff.
The antibiotics that seem more likely to produce Clostridium difficile infections are fluoroquinolones, cephalosporins, clindamycin and penicillin.
It’s not hard to find C. diff bacteria in the natural environment. It’s abundant in water and dirt. It can also be found on plants. It is especially plentiful in human and animal feces, and since it can float easily on air, it spreads quickly where sanitation is poor.
The two best protection techniques for avoiding C. difficile germs are these: wash your hands a lot and keep surfaces in your environment clean. C. diff can produce spores capable of living on many home surfaces for months. By touching a place where C. diff bacteria is located, then touching your mouth, you could be starting a series of events that produces a colon infection.
The fact that you have C. diff germs in your digestive tract doesn’t always mean your going to get sick. But anyone who has C. diff can spread the germs to other people.
In recent years, more and more cases of colon infections caused by C. diff have diagnosed. There are reports that a new, more aggressive strain of C. diff has developed and is spreading. This strain resists previous medications, and there have been several serious outbreaks as a result in the last decade.
It may take months for a colon infection to develop and symptoms to appear after C. difficile germs invade your digestive tract. Once colon infection symptoms start appearing, you’re like to experience a combination of the following.
Cramping, tenderness and mild pain in the abdominal area.
* Watery diarrhea that continues for more than two days, with at least ten trips to the bathroom daily.
* Colitis, which is a type of severe stomach inflammation.
* It’s possible that you’ll see pieces or raw tissue in stools, along with blood and pus..
* A fever and some accompanying nausea.
* A loss of weight resulting from a lack of appetite..
* Signs and symptoms of dehydration.
If these symptoms persist for several days, call your physician.
Once your doctor has established that you have a colon infection caused by C. diff, he or she will probably recommend that you discontinue the antibiotic that contributed to the problem. But even though this will reduce the severity of your symptoms, other treatment steps will probably be needed.
Fortunately, antibiotics are available that will kill C. diff without harming beneficial bacteria in your digestive tract. The most frequently antibiotics for a colon infection are metronidazole and vancomycin. Both these medications may have side effects like nausea, and they sometimes leave a bitter taste in your mouth. Be sure never to take metronidazole at the same time as you drink alcohol.
You can also take certain probiotic supplements that have been shown to bring the digestive tract back to health. Saccharomyces boulardii, a variety of yeast, has been effective for some patients when combined with medications.
Surgery isn’t usually performed, but is sometimes done in especially severe cases.
Treatment for a colon infection doesn’t always work. An infection in the colon will sometimes come back because all the C. diff germs were not removed during the initial treatment. It can also return if the individual has come in contact with a new strain.
Click on infection of the colon and colitis treatment to learn more about the human colon. Neal Kennedy is a former TV and radio reporter with a special interest in health and fitness topics.
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