New Intestinal Superbug On The Rise

Study Shows Cases Of Antibiotic-Resistant Infection Increasing By 10,000 Every Year

(CBS/AP)  The number of people hospitalized with a dangerous intestinal superbug has been growing by more than 10,000 cases a year, according to a new study.

The germ, resistant to some antibiotics, has become a regular menace in hospitals and nursing homes. The study found it played a role in nearly 300,000 hospitalizations in 2005, more than double the number in 2000.

The infection, Clostridium difficile, is found in the colon and can cause diarrhea and a more serious intestinal condition known as colitis. It is spread by spores in feces. But the spores are difficult to kill with most conventional household cleaners or antibacterial soap.

C-diff, as it's known, has grown resistant to certain antibiotics that work against other colon bacteria. The result: When patients take those antibiotics, competing bacteria die off and C-diff explodes.

"It's getting more frequent and harder to treat, but I should say, still treatable," said CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook. "What happens is your colon is filled with trillions of bacteria but they're in balance. If you take antibiotics, sometimes it throws the bacteria out of whack.

"This is spread in hospitals from room to room by doctors and nurses who can spread it from patient to patient," LaPook added.

This virulent strain of C-diff was rarely seen before 2000.

"The nature of this infection is changing. It's more severe," said Dr. L. Clifford McDonald, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expert who was not part of the study.

There are other factors that play into the rise of C-diff cases as well, including a larger number of patients who are older and sicker. "And there may be some overuse and inappropriate use of antibiotics," said Dr. Marya Zilberberg, a University of Massachusetts researcher and lead author of the study.

The Zilberberg study was based on a sample of more than 36 million annual discharges from non-governmental U.S. hospitals. That data was used to generate the study's national estimates.

The research is being published in the June issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases, a CDC publication.

Using other scientists' estimates, the study concluded that 2.3 percent of the cases in 2004 were fatal - about 5,500 deaths. That was nearly double the percentage of C-diff-related cases that ended in death in 2000.

Many of the people who died had other health problems. The study did not try to determine if Clostridium difficile was the main cause of death in each case, Zilberberg said.

But earlier research concluded the infection is the underlying cause of thousands of deaths annually, and the problem is getting worse.

C-diff has become an acute health concern in Canada, where it was blamed for 260 deaths at seven Ontario hospitals recently, and 2,000 deaths in Quebec since 2002.

The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology is currently working with U.S. hospitals to study prevalence of the infection and what infection control measures seem to work best.

"This is not a time for alarm, but more a time for educating health professionals to understand this particular pathogen," said Kathy Warye, chief executive of the Washington, D.C.-based association.

[h5mind]

The human immune system is offered refered to as a "black box" since so little is known about it. Medical professionals can certainly list a plethora of factors relating to poor immune system function, but rarely if ever know how to cure any of the resulting diseases. This, I suspect, is why they prefer to focus on expensive (and lucrative) long term treatment instead of cure. If ''modern'' medicine has failed you, try the following: 1)Eat organic, unprocessed foods, epecially fruits, vegetables, meats and milk, 2)Avoid using flouridated toothpaste, water and beverages containing it, 3)Avoid high fructose corn syrup, 4)Eat raw honey each day, especially if you suffer from allergies (which are themselves evidence of auto-immune disorder),5) and finally, do not take vaccinations if they contain mercury, aluminum or formaldehyde. Better yet, refuse all of them. Groups such as the Amish follow these rules and do not suffer from the many mystery illnesses so rampant today. Their population is almost entirely devoid of cancer as well. As Aristole said, "food is the first medicine".

[geolough]

I am a pharmacist. I have NEVER heard of anyone getting C.diff by simply taking antibiotics-this idea is way off base. My father died from C.diff at the age of 56 in 2006. The ONLY patients I have seen with C.diff have acquired it in a hospital/care facility. Yes, these patients often have weakened immune systems, and/or other underlying conditions. However, many patients develop C.diff without taking a single dose of an antibiotic. So where is it coming from??? From uninformed, hurried, careless medical and hospital staff. My father had consults with SEVEN different specialities of physicians, a total of TWELVE different doctors, four physicians assistants, and countless nurses visit his room-all in his last 2 days of life. There were 3...yes...THREE medical people who WASHED THEIR HANDS before and after examing my dad-and he had a sink directly next to his bed. All used alcohol gel at the entrance of his door-but this is not effective vs. C.diff.. Hand washing is vital. Also, look at one other major factor as a cause, most infected individuals are on a PPI, or H2 inhibitor, these drugs decrease the amount of stomach acid-a vital defense in killing the spores. If your loved one is sharing a room with a C.diff patient, GET THEM OUT, no matter the cost. This is a horrible way to die and a horrible way to witness someone you love to die-there is no dignity in this illness, and it is so easy to prevent if everyone is educated.

[maba7]

Beef cattle, chickens and hogs are given anti-biotics to increase weight gain and prevent illness that might interfere with maximum profits.
My ex-husband had major surgery (which was considered a total success) involving circulation in the lower legs, he developed MRSA in the hospital and C diff in the convalescent facility. Back to hospital because of dehydration. Every time he improved slightly, he was sent back to the convalescent facility. Surgery was done in March 2005, he died in June 2005 from the institution-borne infections. Neither the hospital or nursing home seemed to have heard of probiotics.
Unfortunately, both of the infections are moving away from the institutions and into the general population.

[downsteamjim]

Since 2000 is has become a problem. 5,500 killed in one year. Must be Bush''s fault.

[rf35]

"...it works and saves lives and money,"

Which is why it isn''t used in American medicine. If it doesn''t cost a fortune, nobody is interested.

[lindakaycollier]

If you are interested in other means of treating c diff, just put fecal flora therapy in your search box and you will learn much about this method of treatment used in Canada and other countries.

[lindakaycollier]

I never heard of c diff before my elderly mother was in a nursing facility for physical therapy. She became ill and was in the hospital for several days and received IV antibiotics and just got worse. We finally were told she tested positive for c diff. I began to research it and was amazed that we had never heard anything on the news about this. We are exposing our little children and everyone else when we go to health facilities and are unaware of such a contagious disease. Also, we are not told that many other countries are treating c diff with fecal flora therapy. Especially in Canada and Austrailian. Just put "fecal flora therapy" in your search box and you can find out about this. My mother''s infectious disease doctor mentioned it to us, but they won''t do the procedure in our hospitals or even tell you about it. This fecal flora therapy is stopping the c diff in many, many cases. It may sound gross but when it works and saves lives and money, it''s worth it. Check it out and tell others about it. It should be on the CBS News and other broadcast networks and cable.

[rf35]

Keep ingesting meat/milk loaded with antibiotics and you automatically select for resistant strains of bacteria. Mission Accomplished

Posted by samrensho

It''s not the antibiotics in the meat and milk that''s creating resistant strains; it''s the antibiotics that were shoved down kids'' throats during the last few decades. Blame lies with moms who pressured doctors into prescribing antibiotics for viral colds/flues. The docs knew it had no effect on the kids; it just placated the parents who didn''t know any better. Instead of educating the parents, the medical practice happily took the extra money from the prescription antibiotics and sent the parents home thinking they had done something to cure their child of an incurable virus. There%u2019s a reason antibiotics are prescription-only drugs. Anyway, then mom promptly hosed down the house with gallon after gallon of "anti-bacterial" this and "sanitizing" that, exacerbating the problem. Disinfect the kitchen after slicing up chicken and leave the rest of the house alone. Not only are you selecting the resistant bacteria, your disabling your immune system so when a bug does get in, there is nothing in place to fight it.

Put down the Purell and step back!

[samrensho]

Keep ingesting meat/milk loaded with antibiotics and you automatically select for resistant strains of bacteria. Mission Accomplished

[armydog2]

C-diff is caused by mega doses of antibiotics that kills bacteria in the colon that are necessary. It generally affects the elderly or critically ill patients. Universal precautions [thorough handwashing] is the best way to prevent the spread of this and MRSA.