Clostridial Infection

Clostridial Infection - General Information

1. Gas Gangrene, an infection that affects the patient’s muscles; this form of the disease spreads with great ease and rapidity in the patient’s organism. It is caused by a gas producing, toxic bacterium.
2. Septic Abortion, a medical condition that is very similar to Gas Gangrene. It was the leading cause of the death of the female patients in maternities, a phenomenon that used to occur almost worldwide (and that is still an important issue in the case of third world, developing countries). This medical condition appears due to poor gynecological practice and to illegal abortions.
3. Tetanus is an infection that is caused by CI tetani. This bacterium’s spores are very resistant and they can be found in house dust, soil, and so on. The spores can remain in the patient’s system for years until the medical condition’s symptoms appear.
4. Pseudomembranous Colitis is a medical condition that is caused by the Cl. Difficile. This bacterium’s toxins are quite difficult to completely eradicate from a large medical setting (such as a hospital).
5. Botulism is a medical condition that is triggered by the exposure to the Cl. Botulinum neurotoxin.

Clostridial Infection - Symptoms

Clostridial Infection - Treatment

There are different types of therapies for Clostridial Infections, as the appropriate treatment method depends on the type of infection that the patient is suffering from. In order to effectively establish the proper therapy for a particular patient, his or her personal physician must first determine the exact form of this illness that the patient presents. This is easily done with the help of medical exams. However, it is a known fact that early diagnosis in the case of patients suffering from Clostridial Infections is highly important. This is why all patients who develop any of the symptoms that we have listed in the former chapter ought to contact their doctor and schedule an emergency appointment in order to see whether you require medical attention. Patients who are suffering from Gas Gangrene (one of the many forms of Clostridial Infections) are generally treated with hyperbaric oxygen. In some cases, surgical debridement is required in order to effectively remove any remaining dead and / or infected tissue. Patients who are suffering from this medical disorder are generally prescribed anti-toxins and antibiotics (like penicillin).

Pseudomembranous Colitis is another widely-spread Clostridial Infection that is generally treated with the help of antibiotics like clindamycin and / or cephalosporins. It has been clinically proven that a therapy with such medicines not only disrupts the average colonic bacteria, but it also performs lethal actions against the bacterium that causes this disorder (Cl. Difficile). However, the main disadvantage that patients who follow such a treatment experience is their presenting the adverse reactions of increased toxin production. For patients who are unable to deal with ciprofloxacin and / or Trimethoprim, as these medicines do not alter the production of toxins and cause less adverse reactions. Patients who suffer from this medical condition could also benefit from the following measures: stopping the treatment with unnecessary antibiotics; following a bland diet; drinking plenty of liquids (water, juice, and so on); a treatment with metronidazone or with vancomycin.

Patients who develop botulism ought to be prescribed a treatment with a trivalent antitoxin at once. Early treatment is vital in such cases. It is known that in some cases, the full supportive treatment for this particular medical condition could require prolonged ventilation. The recovery of the organism depends on the body’s ability to form new neuro-muscular bonds (junctions). Further information regarding the proper treatment that you ought to follow (the medicines that you should take in on a regular basis) should be acquired from your personal physician. If you want to make sure that you are taking fighting against your Clostridial Infection as you should, you must make sure that you are following the exact instructions that you physician has given you when the exact diagnosis regarding your medical condition was established.