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What Are the Causes?
What Are the Causes?
Clostridium Difficile Bacteria
Clostridium Difficile Bacteria
- Large intestine usually contains good bacteria to maintain a healthy state and to prevent any diseases. Sometimes if you take antibiotics to kill any bacteria which do cause disease, these antibiotics may also kill the good bacteria. This can provide a pathway for the growth of C. difficile bacteria in your colon and can result in release of toxic substances. These toxins can cause large intestine to swell. For example, medicines that decrease stomach acid like Nexium, Prevacid can cause C. difficile infection.
How C.diff disrupts Gastrointestinal tract:
According to a study from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, it took only about 24 hours for the pathogens to develop into toxin-producing, diarrhea-inducing cells in the large intestine. The bile acids in the gut activated the dormant C. diff bacteria, causing them to germinate and grow into cells that colonized the small intestine within 24 hours of entering the digestive tract via the mouth. The researchers found the toxin from C. diff had caused the cells lining of the gastrointestinal tract to become leaky, which in turn summoned immune cells and led to diarrhea.
Is Clostridium difficile contagious?
Yes. C.difficile can spread from one person to another by direct contact with infected person or if the infected person touches things like clothes, mobile phones, door handles etc). People who are working in hospitals pass this bacteria very easily from one room to another.
Bacteria have to increase in number to cause disease. So, favorable conditions for the bacteria to multiply:
1. Weak immune system
2. Old age people
3. People who are in hospitals and nursing homes People using multiple antibiotics or who have been consuming antibiotics recently
4. Person with a colon disease or who have had intestinal surgery
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