Is Clostridium the Latest Super-Bug?

In 2007 the news was filled with reports about MRSA, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, the scary skin-eating bacterium that was being reported in dozens of schools and gyms across the US and the UK.

In 2008, however, the emerging story is Clostridium dificile, the under-reported but potentially life-threatening infectious agent that infects:

• Up to 3,000,000 people every year in the USA alone, and
• Approximately 21 per cent of people admitted to a hospital,
• Killing up to 25 per cent of the very young or very old who develop symptoms.

Tens of millions of people carry Clostridium infections in their colons. Even though this bacterium emits two different kinds of toxins, one that dissolves cells lining the intestine and one that paralyzes them, it is usually harmless.

That's because beneficial bacteria ordinarily keep Clostridium in check. When the "good" bacteria are killed by antibiotics, however, the "bad" bacteria can multiply, release their toxins, and cause intense damage.

Certain antibiotics are far more likely to induce this infection than others. Specifically, the greatest risk is from treatment with:

• Amoxicillin,
• Ampicillin, and/or
• Clindamycin.

Penicillin, erythromycin, azithromycin, and clarithromycin are less likely to induce infection, but even a single dose of antibiotic can trigger bacterial overgrowth, including antibiotics used to treat the disease! And since the means of transmission is fecal-oral, it's especially disturbing that the most common place to get this infection is a hospital.

What are the symptoms of this super-bug? Particularly if you've been admitted to hospital any time from 72 hours to 2 months ago, pay special attention to mild to moderate diarrhea (usually not bloody), fever, abdominal cramping, loss of appetite, and fatigue.

The greatest danger of infection is found in patients who are placed on feeding tubes. Spores from the bacterium can literally float in the air of the hospital room, and leaving the cans of liquid food supplements open before placing them into the feeding tube tremendously increases the risk of contamination.

Even relatively healthy people who feed themselves, however, can be get Clostridium infection in the hospital, and about 20 per cent do. Frequent hospital visitors should also exercise caution.

In its earlier stages, Clostridium infection is hard to distinguish from other "stomach bugs." But because this bacterium can go on to cause dehydration, perforation of the colon, and peritonitis, it's very important to see a physician--or to alert your attending physician--if these symptoms appear after taking antibiotics.

You can also read about A Natural Therapy for Clostridium Clinically Proven to Work at Robert Rister's Savvy Natural Healer website.