Abdominal pain and diarrhea had taken over Mary’s* life. Every few hours, she had to rush to the bathroom, a trend that ultimately cost her her job. Worse still, she couldn’t spend time with her grandchildren because she feared they would get sick too.
When she went to her appointment to see Teena Chopra, MD, MPHinfectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at Wayne State University in Detroit, tests revealed that the cause of his condition was a bacterial infection called Clostridioides difficile Or C.diff. The infection caused her to develop colitisinflammation of the colon, which triggered diarrhea and abdominal pain.
“C.diff (The infection) has been around for years, but its prevalence has increased because we use a lot of antibiotics and because more people are exposed to the hospital environment,” Chopra said. “As we age, we are also more vulnerable because our immunity wanes. It is a harmful disease because it causes diarrhea and affects people’s quality of life.
C.diff is the Most common healthcare-associated infection in the United States., with almost half a million case and as much as 30,000 deaths reported each year. What is now worrying health care providers and researchers is the increase in recurrent infections, putting C.diff in the category of infections considered urgent threats to public health by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
How C. diff infections occur
Our bodies contain billions of bacteria, and the majority of our bacteria present in our intestines make up what is called intestinal microbiota. OUR organ systems depend on a balanced microbiome to stay healthy.
When bad bacteria like C.diff overtake healthy bacteria, dysbiosis, the technical term for an imbalance in the gut microbiome, can occur. A healthy microbiome can prevent C.diff to multiply in the intestine, but if there is an imbalance, C.diff bacteria can grow. This leads to the production of toxins that cause an inflammatory response in the colon and can trigger debilitating symptoms, such as diarrhea, fever, stomach tenderness or pain, loss of appetite, and nausea.
C.diff Bacteria can be all around us, but infection most often occurs when people take antibiotics. Antibiotics kill bad bacteria in your gut, but they can also kill good bacteria that help prevent infections. People can also get a C.diff infection from surfaces or objects containing C.diff spores, which can persist on surfaces for a long time.
Autoimmune diseases, HIV and cancer are among the conditions that can disrupt the gut microbiome, as can treatments like chemotherapy and steroids. Just being in a hospital, clinic, or long-term care facility can put you at risk of C.diff infection. Many people who spend a lot of time in health care settings already have weakened immune systems, putting them at greater risk of infection. Even those who work as healthcare professionals could face higher risk C.diff infection due to increased exposure.
The unique burden of C. diff infection for women
Anyone can get a C.diff but certain biological, physical and lifestyle factors put women at higher risk. These factors include:
- Biology: Women’s reproductive anatomy makes it more likely that they will develop conditions requiring antibiotic treatment, such as bacterial vaginosis and urinary tract infections. Many cases of C.diff Infection occurs after taking antibiotics because these medications can destroy the good bacteria that help fight infection, as well as the bad bacteria.
- Pregnancy and childbirth: Changes in the immune system that occur during pregnancy increase the risk of bacterial infections that lead to antibiotic treatment. Women who give birth by cesarean section are also at greater risk of hospital-acquired infections due to surgery, longer hospital stays and antibiotic use. There was also a increase in the number of postpartum women with C.diff infection, probably because they were exposed during their hospital stay.
- Exposure to healthcare environments: Everyone has doctor’s appointments, but women are generally more exposed to health care settings because they see their healthcare professional in the office more often than men. Also almost 9 out of 10 Percent of nursing, psychiatric and home aides in institutional settings, at home and in the community are women.
- Socioeconomic status: Women from underserved communities may face a delay in obtaining diagnosis and treatment. “It is important to highlight the social determinants of health in women of color and low-income women“, Chopra said. “There may be a lack of trust in health systems (within these communities), so it is important to have more awareness and education about this. C.diff infection.”
- Age: Advanced age puts everyone at greater risk of C.diff infection due to reduced ability to mount a strong immune response to a bacterial infection.
Take care of yourself
Awareness of C.diff The infection and its risk factors can help women reduce their risk of getting the infection and receive appropriate treatment if they do get it. If you have persistent diarrhea, fever, stomach tenderness or pain, loss of appetite, or nausea, you should ask your healthcare professional for specific treatment. C.diff infection test.
You can reduce your risk of C.diff infection by washing your hands with soap and water. THE friction due to friction eliminates spores. Surfaces and bathrooms should be cleaned with bleach – the only agent that can help remove C.diff bacteria.
If you have an asset C.diff infection, these practices are even more important because C.diff spores can live on surfaces for months.
Lifestyle changes, such as a healthy diet and exercise, are also important for maintaining a healthy gut microbiome. Chopra said a diverse diet with more plant-based foods and fermented products can help. And it is also important to avoid foods and drinks high in sugar, because intestinal bacteria feed on sugar. Exercise can also promote positive changes in the gut microbiome.
These changes can help reduce the risk of infection and improve your overall health, Chopra said. She added that it’s important for women – all of whom are caregivers, mothers and CEOs – to not forget about their own lifestyle and health.
*Mary is not her real name.
This educational resource was created with the support of Ferring Pharmaceuticals USA.
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