Current approaches

Symptoms

Common Symptoms

Fever
Diarrhea

Severe Symptoms

Dehydration
Abdominal Pain
Nausea
Kidney Failure

Diagnosis

There are several ways to detect C. Difficle Infection.

Stool Tests

Enzyme Immunoassay: Using certain enzymes to detect TcdA and TcdB toxins created by C. Diff Bacteria.
Polymerase Chain Reaction: Detection of TcdB toxin.
Cytotoxicity Assay: Detection of toxin TcdB by placing diluted fecal supernate in Vero cells. Toxin will be present if the Vero cells become round-like.

Colon Examination

Colon examination involves a doctor performing Sigmoidoscopy or Colonoscopy. A flexible tube with a camera is inserted and checked for any inflammation in the colon that might have been caused by the bacteria.

Imaging Tests

Imaging tests involves performing X-ray or a CT scan on the abdominal area. The images will show if there are any abnormalities such as thickening of the colon wall and expanding of the bowel.

Treatments

The treatment approach depends on the severity of the infection caused by the bacteria.
If the infection is mild, terminating the antibiotics that caused the infection is the best way to treat the infection.

Antibiotics

If the infection is severe. Antibiotics is the next step.

Metronidazole antibiotic
Vancomycin antibiotic

Surgery

Surgically remove the ill portion of the colon.

If Infection Repeats

There is a chance that 20-27% patients can still get the infection in the future. In this case, antibiotics can be used but fecal microbiota transplantation is a better choice.

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