New Superbug (C. diff.) Surpasses MRSA Infection Rates in Community Hospitals

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.dukehealth.org/health_library/news/new_superbug_surpasses_mrsa_infection_rates_in_community_hospitals

New Superbug Surpasses MRSA Infection Rates in Community Hospitals

By Duke Medicine News and Communications

While prevention methods appear to be helping to lower hospital infection rates from MRSA, a deadly antibiotic-resistant bacterium, a new superbug is on the rise, according to research from the Duke Infection Control Outreach Network.

New data shows infections from Clostridium difficile are surpassing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in community hospitals.

“We found that MRSA infections have declined steadily since 2005, but C. difficile infections have increased since 2007,” said Becky Miller, MD, an infectious diseases fellow at Duke University Medical Center.

C. difficile is a multi-drug resistant bacterium that causes diarrhea and in some cases life-threatening inflammation of the colon. The infections are currently treated with one of two antibiotics. But relapses are common and occur in one-quarter of patients despite treatment, according to Miller.

...

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. It became a big problem a few years ago in Britain

C. diff deaths 'continue to rise'

The number of deaths involving the hospital bug Clostridium difficile in England and Wales rose by 28% between 2006 and 2007, official figures show.

The Office for National Statistics data reports C. difficile was mentioned on 8,324 death certificates compared to 6,480 in the previous year.

Experts say the increase may partly be due to better reporting of the infection.

However, deaths from the superbug MRSA fell slightly over the same period.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7585668.stm

A year later:

MRSA and C diff death rates fall

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that the number of death certificates mentioning C diff fell by 29% between 2007 and 2008, to 5,931.

This is the first year that mentions on a death certificate have fallen since records began in 1999.

The number of death certificates mentioning MRSA fell by 23% over the same period, to 1,230 – the second year running in which mentions have fallen.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/aug/19/mrsa-superbugs-death-rates

[OKIsItJustMe]

2. I hope we're so lucky

One of the most promising studies I've seen suggests that the spread of C. Diff. is prompted by antibiotic treatment (antibiotics knock out the "good" gut flora, giving resistant C. Diff. a chance to take over) however, probiotic treatment combats it successfully.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-07/wtsi-css072009.php
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-04/bi-rrc042908.php

[marybourg]

4. I'm afraid it takes a lot more than probiotics to knock it out.nt.

[cutlassmama]

8. very much so. Almost died from this and probiotics did NOT help whatsoever.

[OKIsItJustMe]

10. Here's a study you may find of interest

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anaerobe.2009.09.002

Evidence-based review of probiotics for antibiotic-associated diarrhea and Clostridium difficile infections

...

Abstract

Probiotics are living microbes taken to confer a health benefit on the host. Although probiotics have a long history of use in Europe and Asia and have been on the U.S. market for over 14 years, there is still confusion about how to effectively use them. The use of probiotics for the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) and the treatment of Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) has been tested in randomized controlled clinical trials.

This paper will review the evidence supporting probiotic therapy for these two diseases and also review the advantages and disadvantages of probiotics. The advantages of probiotic therapy include multiple mechanisms of action against pathogens, the ability to interact with the host's natural defense systems, survival to the target organ and a good risk to benefit ratio. Disadvantages of probiotics include lack of standardization for clinical trial designs, variations in regulatory standards, poor quality control for some products and infrequent serious adverse reactions. Overall, probiotics offer a promising strategy for the prevention and treatment for AAD and CDI

...

[Warpy]

6. There's some evidence that recolonizing the colon

with beneficial bacteria (a shit enema, actually) can keep C. diff. in check in debilitated patients getting high dose, long term antibiotics. It sounds like a revolting idea, but what keeps C. diff, a form of gas gangrene, from developing in healthy people is competition from other natural intestinal flora.

Unfortunately, we don't as yet have capsules to take that recolonize the gut with the whole spectrum of beneficial bacteria. People on antibiotics would do well to eat yogurt with live cultures to partially recolonize the gut, it's better than nothing and does work to curtail some of the worst GI symptoms.

[Bonhomme Richard]

9. Probiotic doesn't kill C diff.

I took probiotic but it took two tries with Flagyl to get me back to normal. Then I had a minor operation and got it again when they put me on an antibiotic.

[xchrom]

5. My dad had a couple of awful, awful battles with c dif

Before he died.

An horrifying disease to contract.

[rox63]

3. C-Diff is very common in hospitals right now

It's not anything new, but it has become a lot more widespread in the last few years.

[marybourg]

11. And you don't even have to go to the hospital to get it. I contracted

it after routine prophylactic antibiotic following tooth extraction. And I can assure everyone that probiotics ( which I was taking before and during) didn't help. Only Flagyl, and failing that, Vancomycin, have effected cures. Perhaps in the future . . . . But not now.

[Bonhomme Richard]

7. I had it.

Not fun.