Guest guest Posted April 2, 2002 Report Share Posted April 2, 2002 Hi. My son recently tested positive for cdiff (after 2 years of trying to figure out Gastro complications.) He's 3 1/2 years old. I would like more info on what this bacteria does long term. This is the 2nd time in the last 3 months that he tested positive and has been treated with Flagyl once and Vancomycin (orally ) two times. The doctors believe that the cdiff came from constant oral antibiotic use ( BAD SINUSES!) Does anyone have experience with this? Thanks, Michele __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2002 Report Share Posted April 2, 2002 Michele I see a lot of C-Diff on the hospital where I work and for the most part it is cleared up by the Flagyl and anti-fungals. Also, when he is well, you could give him yogurt with live cultures, etc. to keep the amount of normal flora (the bacteria that normally live in the intestine and help kill off any weird fungi or bacteria). I know a lot of people on this list have many good suggestions for how to do that. Take care, Love, cdiff Hi. My son recently tested positive for cdiff (after 2 years of trying to figure out Gastro complications.) He's 3 1/2 years old. I would like more info on what this bacteria does long term. This is the 2nd time in the last 3 months that he tested positive and has been treated with Flagyl once and Vancomycin (orally ) two times. The doctors believe that the cdiff came from constant oral antibiotic use ( BAD SINUSES!) Does anyone have experience with this? Thanks, Michele __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2002 Report Share Posted April 2, 2002 Hello , I am a friend of a child with CF but am on this site trying to gather as much information to be supportive as possible. I had Chlostridium Difficile myself! Not a fun thing to have. I went misdiagnosed as well for almost four months, bent in half with pain, until I came across a dental article relating it to antibiotics - which was what set it off. I had been coming down with strep throat and my Dr. prescribed an antibiotic that started with a C - to this day I'm not sure which one but from now on I'll stick to Amoxicillin. After being hospitalized, losing 10lbs of water in the first 72hrs after starting the antibiotic, a colonoscopy and living off ensure for three months a simple stool test, that I requested be done, it was confirmed CDIFF. The bad bacteria takes over in the colon, after taking the antibiotic, that throws the good bacteria off balance. Hate to say it but it's exactly like a yeast infection and the same medication your son took, the Flagyl, is what I took. It is also most commonly perscribed for a yeast infection as well and corrected the CDIFF within 48hrs - kinda. My problem started late in Sept. of 2000, was finally corrected end of Jan. 2001 but to this day I still have problems. I would now call it Irritable Bowel Syndrome and I don't think I will ever be the same. I fell sick this past Dec./01 and was given an antibiotic prescription to fill on my own accord if I could not fight off my infection however my Dr. also gave me a prescription of Flagyl to fill with it. If I found my colon reacting, I was to take it immediately and until I had finished the antibiotic prescription. I know your son is probably on frequent prescriptions of antibiotics but I would ask if he could not regularly take the Flagyl - or another colon bacteria correcting perscription - whenever an antibiotics is prescribed. I know the pain and discomfort I live with on a regular basis and I would not wish that on anyone, let alone a child who is already not feeling well and on a prescription for something else. My thoughts are with you and your son. Elsligar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2002 Report Share Posted April 2, 2002 Hi Michele, sorry to hear about the c.diff. I have copied some abstracts below. The digest of them is, that having C.diff is not unusual for pwcf and normally it doesn't cause problems. But there is the slight risk of pseudomembraneous colitis and this is a life threatening condition. That's why the bug is treated agressively. Hope everything goes well for your son. Peace Torsten, dad of Fiona 5wcf e-mail: torstenkrafft@... : J Pediatr 1998 Jan;132(1):177-9 Related Articles, Books, LinkOut Severe Clostridium difficile-associated colitis in young patients with cystic fibrosis. Rivlin J, Lerner A, Augarten A, Wilschanski M, Kerem E, Ephros MA. Department of Pediatrics, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel. We report four patients with cystic fibrosis and fulminant Clostridium difficile-associated colitis: two died, and one required hemicolectomy. Three of four patients carried the N1303K mutation. Severe and fatal C. difficile colitis can occur in cystic fibrosis patients, possibly with a genotype-specific predilection (i.e., N1303K/other). Because cystic fibrosis patients may have a wide spectrum of gastrointestinal symptoms, disease caused by C. difficile must be considered when these patients have acute abdominal pain, diarrhea, or severe leukocytosis. PMID: 9470027 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] AJR Am J Roentgenol 1999 Feb;172(2):517-21 Related Articles, Books, LinkOut Atypical presentation of Clostridium difficile colitis in patients with cystic fibrosis. Binkovitz LA, E, Bloom D, Long F, Hammond S, Buonomo C, Donnelly LF. Department of Radiology, Columbus Children's Hospital, OH 43205, USA. OBJECTIVE: This report describes the unusual presentation of Clostridium difficile colitis in five patients with cystic fibrosis and the role of CT in first suggesting the correct diagnosis in this group of patients. Because of the absence of watery diarrhea and the presence of abdominal bloating and decreased stooling, cystic fibrosis patients with C. difficile colitis will be treated for stool impaction, meconium ileus equivalent, or distal intestinal obstruction syndrome. CT of the abdomen, performed in these five patients because of their lack of improvement after standard therapy for stool impaction, showed an extensive pancolitis later confirmed to be caused by C. difficile infection. CONCLUSION: In patients with cystic fibrosis, imaging findings of a pancolitis should raise the possibility of C. difficile colitis despite the lack of watery diarrhea. Anticlostridial treatment can be initiated before bacteriologic confirmation is obtained. PMID: 9930816 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] : Dig Dis Sci 1992 Sep;37(9):1464-8 Related Articles, Books, LinkOut Antibiotic-associated colitis and cystic fibrosis. Pokorny CS, Bye PT, MacLeod C, Selby WS. A.W. Morrow Gastroenterology and Liver Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, N.S.W., Australia. The use of antibiotics in patients with cystic fibrosis is widespread, and fecal carriage of Clostridium difficile occurs in up to 50% of these patients; however, antibiotic-associated colitis appears to be a rare occurrence. The reasons why this is so remain unknown. A case of antibiotic-associated colitis occurring in a patient with cystic fibrosis is described. Possible mechanisms for the rarity of antibiotic-associated colitis are reviewed and implications for prompt diagnosis and therapy are discussed. PMID: 1505297 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2002 Report Share Posted April 2, 2002 Hi, C-diff takes over in the G.I. system when antibiotics kill off the normal bacteria in the bowel or if a persons natural defenses cannot fight it off ( such as immune compromised ie. cancer patients etc..). ( It is actually a very common occurance, we see it quite often at the hospital I work at.) It is very treatable and Flagyl is very often used, but, the person with it is Contagious. In a hospital setting the patient would be in contact isolation for a number of days to prevent it's spread. Be sure to use good handwashing for yourself and your family members ( including the affected child). I would use a bleach based product to clean the toilet and bathroom surfaces daily. Laurie- Idaho Mom to 13wCF __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2002 Report Share Posted April 2, 2002 c diff is a mean one... adam's had it many times. i understand once you've had it once, you're more suseptible to it.... it took a long time to clear adam's up and he lost lots of weight. our doc also recommended a dietary supplement called acidophillus. best of luck. Sandy Adam's Mom __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 2, 2002 Report Share Posted April 2, 2002 I know it just causes alot of diarrhea and and can dehydrate you if it gets too bad. It's a bug you get if you've had lots and lots of antibiotics. It is contageous too and you or others can get it easily.I am a nurse and we used to see alot of pts with this and they were put in enteric isolation for this. It can cause bad stomach cramps too. --- michele pelfrey mbeesonkids@...> wrote: > Hi. My son recently tested positive for cdiff (after > 2 > years of trying to figure out Gastro complications.) > He's 3 1/2 years old. I would like more info on what > this bacteria does long term. This is the 2nd time > in > the last 3 months that he tested positive and has > been > treated with Flagyl once and Vancomycin (orally ) > two > times. The doctors believe that the cdiff came from > constant oral antibiotic use ( BAD SINUSES!) Does > anyone have experience with this? > > Thanks, > Michele > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 3, 2002 Report Share Posted April 3, 2002 Thanks so much for the information. It's so hard to know how he feels. His age alone makes it impossible. Yes, he is ALWAYS on an antibiotic. Actually, the docs think I'm nuts, but I can tell when the Cdiff flares up because his behavior becomes intolerable! I actually started taking him to a psychologist because his behaviors were not manageable. I rally think I see a pattern with the CDiff and behavior changes. Any ideas about if it effects long term? I realize the pain, but any organs, etc? --- kdelsligar@... wrote: > Hello , > > I am a friend of a child with CF but am on this site > trying to gather as much > information to be supportive as possible. I had > Chlostridium Difficile > myself! Not a fun thing to have. I went > misdiagnosed as well for almost > four months, bent in half with pain, until I came > across a dental article > relating it to antibiotics - which was what set it > off. I had been coming > down with strep throat and my Dr. prescribed an > antibiotic that started with > a C - to this day I'm not sure which one but from > now on I'll stick to > Amoxicillin. After being hospitalized, losing 10lbs > of water in the first > 72hrs after starting the antibiotic, a colonoscopy > and living off ensure for > three months a simple stool test, that I requested > be done, it was confirmed > CDIFF. The bad bacteria takes over in the colon, > after taking the > antibiotic, that throws the good bacteria off > balance. Hate to say it but > it's exactly like a yeast infection and the same > medication your son took, > the Flagyl, is what I took. It is also most > commonly perscribed for a yeast > infection as well and corrected the CDIFF within > 48hrs - kinda. My problem > started late in Sept. of 2000, was finally corrected > end of Jan. 2001 but to > this day I still have problems. I would now call it > Irritable Bowel Syndrome > and I don't think I will ever be the same. I fell > sick this past Dec./01 and > was given an antibiotic prescription to fill on my > own accord if I could not > fight off my infection however my Dr. also gave me a > prescription of Flagyl > to fill with it. If I found my colon reacting, I > was to take it immediately > and until I had finished the antibiotic > prescription. I know your son is > probably on frequent prescriptions of antibiotics > but I would ask if he could > not regularly take the Flagyl - or another colon > bacteria correcting > perscription - whenever an antibiotics is > prescribed. I know the pain and > discomfort I live with on a regular basis and I > would not wish that on > anyone, let alone a child who is already not feeling > well and on a > prescription for something else. > > My thoughts are with you and your son. > > Elsligar > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 3, 2002 Report Share Posted April 3, 2002 Thanks so much for the info. Jonah has colitis. I only know that from an ER resident who mentioned it after reading his records. We struggled with MAJOR distention, clean outs, gas, etc. for almost his whole life! Interesting to read some abstracts! thanks! michele --- Torsten Krafft torstenkrafft@...> wrote: > Hi Michele, > > sorry to hear about the c.diff. I have copied some > abstracts below. The > digest of them is, that having C.diff is not unusual > for pwcf and normally > it doesn't cause problems. But there is the slight > risk of pseudomembraneous > colitis and this is a life threatening condition. > That's why the bug is > treated agressively. > Hope everything goes well for your son. > > Peace > Torsten, dad of Fiona 5wcf > e-mail: torstenkrafft@... > > : J Pediatr 1998 Jan;132(1):177-9 Related Articles, > Books, LinkOut > > > Severe Clostridium difficile-associated colitis in > young patients with > cystic fibrosis. > > Rivlin J, Lerner A, Augarten A, Wilschanski M, Kerem > E, Ephros MA. > > Department of Pediatrics, Carmel Medical Center, > Haifa, Israel. > > We report four patients with cystic fibrosis and > fulminant Clostridium > difficile-associated colitis: two died, and one > required hemicolectomy. > Three of four patients carried the N1303K mutation. > Severe and fatal C. > difficile colitis can occur in cystic fibrosis > patients, possibly with a > genotype-specific predilection (i.e., N1303K/other). > Because cystic fibrosis > patients may have a wide spectrum of > gastrointestinal symptoms, disease > caused by C. difficile must be considered when these > patients have acute > abdominal pain, diarrhea, or severe leukocytosis. > > PMID: 9470027 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] > > AJR Am J Roentgenol 1999 Feb;172(2):517-21 Related > Articles, Books, LinkOut > > > Atypical presentation of Clostridium difficile > colitis in patients with > cystic fibrosis. > > Binkovitz LA, E, Bloom D, Long F, Hammond S, > Buonomo C, Donnelly LF. > > Department of Radiology, Columbus Children's > Hospital, OH 43205, USA. > > OBJECTIVE: This report describes the unusual > presentation of Clostridium > difficile colitis in five patients with cystic > fibrosis and the role of CT > in first suggesting the correct diagnosis in this > group of patients. Because > of the absence of watery diarrhea and the presence > of abdominal bloating and > decreased stooling, cystic fibrosis patients with C. > difficile colitis will > be treated for stool impaction, meconium ileus > equivalent, or distal > intestinal obstruction syndrome. CT of the abdomen, > performed in these five > patients because of their lack of improvement after > standard therapy for > stool impaction, showed an extensive pancolitis > later confirmed to be caused > by C. difficile infection. CONCLUSION: In patients > with cystic fibrosis, > imaging findings of a pancolitis should raise the > possibility of C. > difficile colitis despite the lack of watery > diarrhea. Anticlostridial > treatment can be initiated before bacteriologic > confirmation is obtained. > > PMID: 9930816 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] > > : Dig Dis Sci 1992 Sep;37(9):1464-8 Related > Articles, Books, LinkOut > > > Antibiotic-associated colitis and cystic fibrosis. > > Pokorny CS, Bye PT, MacLeod C, Selby WS. > > A.W. Morrow Gastroenterology and Liver Centre, Royal > Prince Alfred Hospital, > Camperdown, N.S.W., Australia. > > The use of antibiotics in patients with cystic > fibrosis is widespread, and > fecal carriage of Clostridium difficile occurs in up > to 50% of these > patients; however, antibiotic-associated colitis > appears to be a rare > occurrence. The reasons why this is so remain > unknown. A case of > antibiotic-associated colitis occurring in a patient > with cystic fibrosis is > described. Possible mechanisms for the rarity of > antibiotic-associated > colitis are reviewed and implications for prompt > diagnosis and therapy are > discussed. > > PMID: 1505297 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 4, 2002 Report Share Posted April 4, 2002 Hello again , Here are a couple pages to check out. It looks like the biggest threat is colitis. http://www.ccm.lsumc.edu/BugBytes/Volume4/BB-v4n5.htm http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/954992292.html http://archsurg.ama-assn.org/issues/v134n11/abs/ssi9012.html Wish I could be more help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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