C Diff Flashcards
C Difficile is defined as greater than or equal 3 unformed stools in 24 hours with:
A stool test positive for C diff toxins or detection of toxin C diff
OR
Colonoscopic or histopathologic findings revealing pseudomembranous colitis.
-Pseudomembranous colitis – severe inflammation of the inner lining of the bowel
Healthcare facility-onset (HO) CDI
laboratory identified event collected >3 days after admission to the facility
Community-onset, healthcare facility-associated (CO-HCFA) CDI
CDI that occurs within 28 days after discharge from health-care facility
Community-associated (CA) CDI
onset of symptoms within 48 hours of admission to hospital or more than 12 weeks after discharge
C-Diff can exist in spore and vegetative forms
Spore form – resistant to heat, acid, and antibiotic
Vegetative form – active, fully functional, toxin producing and become susceptible to killing antimicrobial agents
Spore C Diff
resistant to heat, acid, and antibiotic
Vegetative form
active, fully functional, toxin producing and become susceptible to killing antimicrobial agents
Produces two potent exotoxins, toxin A and toxin B
Toxin A – causes inflammation leading to interstitial fluid secretion and mucosal injury
Toxin B – 10 times more potent than toxin A
Pathogenesis of C Diff
- ) Antibiotic use
- ) Disruption of colonic microflora
- ) C diff exposure and colonization
- ) Release of toxin A and toxin B
- ) Mucosal injury and inflammation
Clinical Manifestation of C-Diff
new onset of ≥ 3 unformed stools in 24 hrs (May be associated with mucus or occult blood)
Low grade fever Nausea Unexplained leukocytosis Hypovolemia Lactic acidosis Hypoalbuminemia Pseudomembranous colitis
Risk Factors
Mainly divided into 3 categories: advanced age, underlying illness and medical history, and immunosuppression
Significant risk factors: antibiotic use and age.
All antibiotics can be associated with CDI
Age: one study demonstrated that the risk of contracting CDI during an outbreak was 10x as high among persons older than 65 years of age as among younger inpatients.
Very common medications that Associated to C-Diff
**Clindamycin Ampicillin Amoxicillin Cephalosporins **Fluroquinolones
Somewhat common medications associated with C-Diff
Other Penicillins Sulfonamides Trimethoprim Bactrim Macrolides
Ticket to test
Lab Test Recommendations
Submit stool samples only from patients with unexplained and new onset > 3 unformed stool in 24 hrs
DO NOT submit stool samples on patients who have been receiving laxatives
Lab Test Recommendations
Nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) alone OR with stool toxin test as part of a multiple step algorithm (GDH + toxin, GDH + toxin, arbitrated by NAAT, or NAAT + toxin) rather than toxin test alone
Glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH)
Sensitivity - High
Specificity - Low
Availability - Widely