Transcript Document

Deadly Diarrhea
…and the salvation of stool
Teri Brentnall, M.D.
Professor, Medicine Gastroenterology
• Government Calls Conference to Study Deadly Infection
A type of bacteria that causes virulent diarrhea has been
spreading through hospitals
• Trouble in the Gut, When Antibiotics Work Too Well
A spore-forming, toxin-producing bacterium can flourish in the
large intestine when antibiotics kill off the competition.
• Deadly Germ Is Becoming Wider Threat
The bacterium, Clostridium difficile, has become a menace in
hospitals and nursing homes.
What causes C. diff colitis?
• C. diff is naturally in the gut, but can also be
acquired through stool contamination on
surfaces and food
• Gut bacteria become unbalanced after
antibiotics
• C. diff grows and create toxins
C. Diff has become more drug-resistant & more deadly
Epidemiology
• Commonly occurs in patients in hospitals or
nursing homes
• C. diff spores survive cold, hot, or dry surfaces
– killed by bleach
• Per death certificates, 14,000 people died
from C. diff last year in the U.S.
• Some in CDC estimate that the true number
may be 30K
Treatment
• Antibiotics
• 20% of patients
relapse
• Repeated antibiotics
Fecal Transplantation:
The Power of Poop
• Becoming more utilized across the nation
• Requires physician to be “FDA approved”
• “Stool pills” may become available
• Saves lives
Prevention of C. diff colitis
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Avoid “casual” antibiotic use
Use of probiotics
Hand washing
Contact your doctor if you get diarrhea after
antibiotic use.
• In hospital—hand washing programs with
chlorhexidine not alcohol-based soap
• Cleaning practices of rooms