Clindamycin & Clostridium Difficile - Bowel Disorders Message Board

Geneva1 · 07-28-2003, 11:48 AM

I recently had some oral surgery, and was given Clindamycin. Three weeks after stopping it,
I noticed mucous and blood in my BM, mild abdominal cramps, headaches, weakness, but no diarrhea. Sent a stool
sample, which came back positive for Clostridium Difficile (C Diff). The Drs told me that
my body seemed to be taking care of the toxins on it's own, and that adding another antibiotic
might cause problems. Has anyone else had this happen? I know that C Diff can cause different
types of Colitis, but could I be in danger of that happening by not taking anything? They told
me that the toxins are only associated with C Diff, when diarrhea is present. Does C Diff
sometimes go away on it's own??

Extremely concerned,

Geneva

projapoti · 07-28-2003, 12:31 PM

Clostridium difficile is actually a bacterium that is normally present in the gut. It normally lives on its merry own, not bothering you one bit, because the other bacteria that live in your gut keep it in check. However, sometimes when given antibiotics (in your case clindamycin) these other friendly bacteria are killed off and C. difficile can grow out of check and give you the symptoms that you are having. Usually, if you stop the antibiotic, the normal flora come back and put C. difficile back in check....other times, you have to take another antibiotic (usually metronidazole [flagyl]) to get it under control.

You're right that C. difficile causes colitis (but not the colitis that you get with inflammatory bowel disease) it is called "pseudomembranous colitis", and it is a common thing seen in hospitals and outpatient care facilities.

Don't be worried....you might have a little bit of discomfort, but you'll be fine.

Geneva1 · 07-28-2003, 01:07 PM

Projapoti,

Thank you so much for your reply! I was scared to death about this! But can CDIFF go away on it's own?
What are the chances that it will progress to pseudomembranous colitis, and isn't that pretty bad to have? I've heard it's hard to get under control!

Thanks,

Geneva

Sarah68 · 07-28-2003, 01:59 PM

I think that you could help yourself a little more if you took a probiotic supplement such as Acidophilis. These contain gut friendly bacteria and will help recolonise your gut more quickly than if you do nothing. You can either take these or eat some natural yogurt instead. It will do the same thing.

I think that if you have only had one course of anitbiotics and you are a young, strong, fit and normally healthy person with a good immune system, then your chances of having pseudomenbranous colitis are very slim indeed. I am glad to say that I have only seen one case of this and it was an extreme one at that. However, it was in a man in his late 60's and who had poor immunity anyway and had renal failure from renal artery stenosis. He had had two failed angioplasties and died in the end I am afraid to say.

Try not to worry and you will be fine, given time.

Good luck

projapoti · 07-28-2003, 03:41 PM

I agree with Sarah68..taking a probiotic supplement would be very helpful indeed. With C. difficile, it is very important to recolonize the gut with the normal proportions of flora. C. difficile can go away on its own, but don't fret if it doesn't. It's probably a good idea to see a doctor now, and (s)he will decide whether you need to have any antibiotic therapy or if it's worth waiting it out. If it gets any worse, though, then go straight to the doctor.