Why Clostridium difficile infections are dangerous
A new study conducted under the guidance of specialists from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that in 2011 in the United States, the bacterium Clostridium difficile caused 500,000 cases of illness and more than 15,000 deaths.< /p>
The authors of the study published their results in the New England Journal of Medicine.
They believe that this study emphasizes the importance of the competent appointment of antibiotics only according to strict indications and strict adherence to the anti-epidemic regime in medical institutions, since it is these 2 factors that play a decisive role in solving the problem of infections caused by Cl. Difficile.
The bacterium Cl. Difficile causes colitis – inflammation of the large intestine. Infection with this microorganism is possible after contact with surfaces or objects contaminated with feces in which they are contained.
Symptoms of an infection caused by Bacteria Cl. Difficile consist of fever, diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite and stomach pain.
People who take antibiotics for other diseases are most prone to infection with Cl. Difficile, because antibiotics destroy the beneficial bacteria in the intestines and against this background Cl. Difficile multiplies much more easily – it is insensitive to most antibacterial preparations.
And after a person takes antibiotics, the conditions in his intestines become extremely suitable for the reproduction of the bacteria.
According to CDC data, more than half of hospitalized patients also receive antibiotic therapy, making healthcare facilities a major source of Cl transmission. Difficile.
Furthermore, previous research has shown that around 30-50% of antibiotics prescribed in hospitals and medical facilities are administered off-label or incorrectly, increasing the risk to both patients themselves and those who come into contact with them after discharge from the medical facility.
This problem is particularly serious in closed institutions, such as nursing homes.
The aim of this study was to estimate the burden of Cl. Difficile in the US.
The lead author of the study, Dr. Fernanda C. Lessa, a medical epidemiologist at the CDC, and a team of scientists set out to find cases of Cl. Difficile in 10 US geographies in 2011.
Based on their results, scientists claim that in 2011 in the US, about 453 thousand people were infected with Cl. Difficulty. And 29,300 deaths were registered 30 days after the diagnosis of infection with this bacterium. Of these deaths, according to scientists, about 15 thousand were associated with Cl. Difficile.
The study showed that people over the age of 65 are particularly vulnerable to infection with Cl. Difficulty. Approximately one in three cases of illness caused by this bacterium has been reported in people of this age group.
And they are actually the main spreaders of the infection. Furthermore, about 80% of deaths due to infection caused by Cl. Difficile were in patients aged 65 and over.
The authors of the study noted that women were more vulnerable to infections with Cl. Difficile.
Approximately 2/3 of the cases of infections with this bacterium were associated with stays in medical facilities, according to the data obtained as a result of the conducted research. And of these, almost ¼ occurred during hospitalization and the same number occurred in the homes of elderly people.
