Introduction
- It can be spread by the faecal-oral route, and by person-person contact – hence the importance of hand-washing between patients on the ward!
- It is also present in soil, water and carried in pets
In these circumstances c. diff can that cause a severe diarrhoea, that is the result of intestinal mucosal inflammation cause by c. diff toxins A and B.
- In some instances c. difficile can be acquired and become symptomatic in the abscence of antibiotic use, but this is rare
Clostridium difficile is not easily grown on MC+S and instead the routine test is a stool sample for c. diff toxin.
- The presence of C. difficile on stool MC+S is NOT diagnostic – as it is carried in up to 5% of the population
Treatment is usually with metronidazole, although vancomycin may be used in some circumstances. Other antibiotics implicated in causing the illness may be ceased. C. difficile forms spores which can contaminate the environment and infect other patients and healthcare workers. Patients with c. diff should be isolated int he ir own room with heir own toilet. Hand washing with soap and water should be performed by patient and staff as alcohol does not destroy or remove the spores.
Pathology
- The symptoms of c. diff infection are a result of the toxins produced by the bacteria and not directly of the bacteria itself
Investigations
- Stool sample for enterotoxins produced by C. difficile
- Sensitivity + Specificy both 95% – HOWEVER – there are examples of patient deaths from c diff in cases of negative test results, so always consult the micobiologist
- There are various ways to detect the toxin – including enzyme immunoassay, rapid immunographic testing and NAAT (nucleic acid amplification) – a type of which is PCR (polymerase chain reaction).
Signs and Symptoms
- Usually occurs approx 5-10 days after antibiotic use but can be anywhere from 1 day to 2 months
- Diarrhoea ± blood
- Abdominal discomfort / pain
- Nausea and vomiting is rare
- Sepsis (rare)
- Acute abdomen (rarer)
Treatment
- Metronidazole – 400mg/8h PO for 8-10 days
- Vancomycin is often second line, but more expensive
- It is also often wise to inform the GP of the infection, so that if the need arises to prescribe antibiotics in the future, the GP is able to prescribe metronidazole simultaneously to avoid a recurrence of pseudomembranous colitis.
- Consider ceasing any other broad spectrum antibiotics that the patient may currently be taking