C difficile what can i eat

One is the overuse of antibiotics, including fluoroquinolones. He notes that the prudent use of antibiotics is something physicians should be aware of in efforts to control C diff rates.

Such efforts are among the reasons many hospitals are instituting antibiotic stewardship programs led by infectious disease physicians to help doctors more appropriately use antibiotics. In , NAP1 was discovered and linked to several hospital outbreaks.

Known to be more virulent than other strains, it produces more exotoxins along with an additional toxin called a binary toxin.

When it causes sickness, these cases are more severe, creating a greater number of complications, he adds. She notes more CDI cases are being reported simply because doctors are aware of the condition and are looking for it. The increased awareness, which is good, increases the likelihood that doctors will properly identify the symptoms and quickly test and confirm the diagnosis.

An Ounce of Prevention Preventing CDI often is more basic than healthcare workers might imagine, and many effective procedures stem from logical solutions. Regardless, the following are wise precautionary steps to take:. Patients will exhibit clinical symptoms watery diarrhea, fever, nausea, abdominal pain or tenderness, loss of appetite and test positive for the C diff organism or its toxin.

As a spore-forming organism, C diff can remain on surfaces, such as bedrails or counters, for an extended period of time. These spores also are resistant to a lot of antiseptics and hospital-grade disinfectants, making them a challenge to remove. The solution: Bleach is best, Moehring says. Researchers are working to develop a better way to clean hospital rooms. For example, Duke University School of Medicine is set to begin testing a promising new way to disinfect rooms using an ultraviolet light device.

Because these tests are different in terms of what results they show and their sensitivity, doctors must be in tune with the laboratory to be able to analyze the results accurately. Before testing even begins, Cohen says doctors should be on alert for patients who are highly suspect for contracting the infection.

Additionally, many patients show an atypical presentation of CDI. In some, Cohen notes, they may have an ileus.

Treatment Options Most patients with CDI can be successfully treated with antibiotics; metronidazole or vancomycin is commonly prescribed. Patients received mg of fidaxomicin or mg of vancomycin orally for 10 days. Dehydration is a common side effect of watery diarrhea, so fluid intake is very important. Malabsorption of nutrients is another common side effect of C.

During and after treatment, focus on eating foods with high nutritional value. Look for foods that are rich in vitamins, potassium, sodium, magnesium, and calcium. The truth about pregnancy with C-diff ». These foods include:. What to eat after food poisoning ». Certain foods can exacerbate stomach distress, gas, or cramping, and should be avoided. They include:.

Lactose intolerance is a common side effect of C. Avoiding milk and dairy products — with the possible exception of yogurt containing live, active cultures — may help eliminate added gastrointestinal distress. You may become gluten intolerant for a period of time after infection. Treatment for C. Your doctor may try other antibiotics to stop the C. Some antibiotics used to treat C. These symptoms may make it harder for you to eat. If you find it difficult to keep food down, your doctor may recommend that you stick to a liquid diet for several days prior to starting a soft food regimen.

If you continue to experience symptoms or you have a recurrence of infection, alternative treatments may be beneficial. These include:. Dangerous infection may cause fever, bloody diarrhea, and a distended, tender belly.

If you have any of these symptoms let your doctor know. C diff is diagnosed with stool testing to look for C diff toxins. Your doctor may stop or change an antibiotic that you are still taking if possible, but you will need to start another antibiotic that kills C diff bacteria. The first choice is an antibiotic called metronidazole. Other options are vancomycin and fidaxomicin. An emerging alternative treatment is a stool transplant from a healthy stool donor, called a fecal microbiota transplant FMT.

Studies show that FMT can replace harmful bacteria, like C diff, with healthy bacteria and restore a healthy bacterial balance in your colon. About 20 percent of people get a recurrence of C diff after treatment. FMT may be most valuable in these cases. Look for probiotic-rich yogurts and kefir in the dairy aisle. Diet changes will not get rid of a C diff infection, but they may help you manage the diarrhea.