Are You at Risk of Getting a ‘Clostridium difficile’ Infection?

Many people are very concerned about the outbreaks of  health care acquired infections that have recently been widely reported in hospitals and other settings.   These infections have been traced to the bacteria Clostridium difficile,  also known as C. difficile.  This is a highly infectious pathogen that is very resistant to many front line commonly utilized antibiotics.

The following may increase your risk of getting C. difficile infection …..

• Hospital stay: Staying in a hospital too long or sharing a room with a C. difficile infected person increases your risk.
• Nasogastric tube: A common medical procedure involves using a NG tube or NGT.  This is typically put into your nose and down your stomach to feed you or keep your stomach empty.  Having an NGT may promote a C. difficile infection
• Age: Elderly are more susceptible to C. difficile infections as the body  changes  overtime.  Newborn babies also have an increased risk of being infected
• Antacids: These medicines decrease the stomach acid that can kill harmful bacteria.
• Antibodies: Antibiotics are medicines that kill bacteria, including the good ones.  Taking such medicines may upset the balance between the good and bad bacteria in the colon.
• Dormant Infection: The C. difficile bacteria from a previous infection may still be in your system and could cause another infection.
• Weak Immune System: The immune (body’s defense) system is that part of your body that fights infection. Chemotherapy and other medicines, such as steroids, decrease your immune system and make it weak.  Having surgeries or procedures, such as an organ transplant, in the past may also affect your body defenses.

So, what can you do to decrease your risk of acquiring C. difficile?

• The most important step in stopping C. difficile infections is to only take antibiotics when they are really necessary.  Every year in the United States, antibiotics are prescribed for viral illnesses that aren’t helped at all by such drugs.  And even some common bacterial ailments such as ear infections or bronchitis may not respond well to antibiotics. Taking a wait-and-see attitude with simple ailments may often be the best course.
• There is a balance between good and bad bacteria. A Clostridium difficile infection happens when this healthy balance changes.  This may give C. difficile a chance to multiply (increase in number) and cause an infection.  Eating nutritious meals and getting adequate sleep helps your body to maintain a healthy environment for the ‘good’ bacteria.
• Without the presence of healthy colonies, infectious bacteria have a chance to take hold. In order to eliminate C. difficile spores (dormant egg like bacterial sac) you need to have some ‘good’ normal flora present.  Numerous studies have proven probiotics & prebiotics to be a successful solution for recurrent C. difficile caused diarrhea.  A really good source of probiotics is Shaklee’s Optiflora taken 3 times a day.
• Garlic is  good to take for all diseases as it is anti-bacterial,  anti-fungal, and anti-viral.
• Enhance your immune system with a natural interferon booster.