YOU DID NOTHING WRONG
TO GET
C. DIFF
C. diff can happen to anyone, but there are certain
factors that can increase your risk of it coming back
- Taking antibiotics
- Being 65 years of age or older
- Staying in a hospital or nursing home
- Having a weakened or suppressed immune system
- Use of proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy for acid reflux
- Being exposed to C. diff germs
While antibiotics can kill C. diff bacteria, they are a main risk factor for getting a recurrence
After you’ve had
C. diff
at least 2 times, your risk of
it coming back again increases up to 65%
When C. diff comes back, you may recognize some common symptoms. Talk to your doctor if you are having*:
FREQUENT, UNIQUELY
BAD-SMELLING DIARRHEA
PAINFUL
STOMACH CRAMPS
FEVER
NAUSEA AND LOSS
OF APPETITE
*These are the most common recurrent C. diff symptoms, but not all possible symptoms.
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TAKE THE QUIZRECURRENT C. DIFF HAS BEEN TYPICALLY TREATED WITH ANTIBIOTICS ALONE
The role of antibiotics in C. diff
Antibiotics are an important piece of treatment because they kill C. diff bacteria that cause your infection
However, antibiotics do not restore the balance of good and bad bacteria in your gut, which can lead to another C. diff recurrence
Your intestine is full of trillions of bacteria that make up the gut microbiome
Why the balance of good and bad bacteria is important
In a healthy gut microbiome, good and bad bacteria are balanced
But if your gut gets disrupted, your body’s natural defense against C. diff is weakened
This causes some people to get C. diff again and again