How to Get Rid of Clostridium Difficile

Chlostridium difficile is often referred to as C. difficile or C. diff. This condition is frequently termed a hospital acquired infection but can also occur as the result of antibiotic medications. Chlostridium difficile is a bacteria that can host a variety of symptoms ranging for diarrhea to inflammation on your colon which can be life-threatening. C. difficile requires immediate medical treatment. For hospital staff treating chlostridium difficile, treatment of patients is likely to vary based on the severity of the case and the overall health of the patient.

Things You'll Need

• Antibiotics
• Probiotics

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Instructions

• 1

  Mention any antibiotics you may be on to your doctor. While antibiotics are used to treat C. diff, certain antibiotics can trigger an occurrence of C.diff. John Hopkins Medical Center indicates that those on chindamycin and cephalosporins are at high risk for developing C. diff. If you are on penicillins, narrow-spectrum cephalosporins and carbapenems, you have a considerable risk of developing C. diff. Antibiotics that place you at a low risk for developing C. diff include tetracyclines, metronidazole, vancomycin and aminoglycosides.

• 2

  Take antibiotics. MayoClinic.com indicates that doctors usually prescribe metronidazole and vancomycin in order to help prevent the growth of C. diff. By preventing the growth of C. diff, normal bacteria is able to grow in the intestines again.

• 3

  Administer probiotics. Probiotics are organisms -- including yeast and bacteria. They help to restore a healthy balance in the digestive system. Saccharomyces boulardii -- a probiotic-- when used with antibiotics can help to prevent C. diff from recurring.

• 4

  Surgery. When C. diff does not respond to antibiotics or the patient is in severe pain or experiencing organ failure or inflammation, surgery is often performed in order to remove the diseased portion of the colon.