(September 28, 2007 - Insidermedicine) The Clostridium difficile bacterium, which causes infectious diarrhea, is nearly four times more likely to kill patients with inflammatory bowel disease, according to a report published in the journal Gut.

Clostridium difficile, or C. difficile colitis is an infection of the colon caused by C. difficile that occurs primarily among individuals who have been using antibiotics. It is the most common infection acquired by patients while they are in the hospital. Symptoms include:
•    A low-grade fever, mild diarrhea, mild abdominal cramps and tenderness
•    A high fever, severe diarrhea with blood, and severe abdominal pain and tenderness
•    In rare cases, life threatening complications including inflammation of the lining of the abdomen, and perforation of the colon

To assess the association between illness and death with C. difficile and IBD in hospitalized patients, researchers studied more than 120,000 patients across the US.

More than one-third had been admitted with the C. difficile infection, more than half had been admitted with IBD, and a small percentage had both C. difficile and IBD. Those with C. difficle alone were considerably older than the IBD patients.

The risk of death was found to be higher among patients with C. difficile alone or in combination with IBD than it was in those with IBD alone. But patients with both infections were nearly four times more likely to die than those with only one infection, regardless of their age. They also stayed in hospital three days longer and required more invasive procedures.

As with any infectious disease, washing your hands often in warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds is your best defense against C. difficile. Use antibiotics only when necessary for serious infections and be sure to take the full course, even after you start to feel better. If you have a fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps, please see your doctor.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.