Outsmart the newest antibiotic-resistant bug.
Awareness of deadly “smart bugs” began in the mid-90s and continues to grow.
As David Bell, MD, of the Centers for Disease Control once stated, “Virtually every important human infection is becoming resistant to the drug of choice used to treat it in the US and all over the world.”
First there was MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), then came E. coli, H. pylori, and now C. difficile (the most common cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea) is emerging as the most potentially dangerous smartbug of them all.
It forms heat-resistant spores that can persist in the environment for years. It has been found on stethoscopes, medical uniforms, and bed pans. Once only found in hospitals, this super bug has now set up shop in daycare centers and long-term care facilities. C. difficile is becoming a community-associated epidemic causing millions of cases of colitis each year as well as toxic megacolon.
Learn what you can do to avoid fatal C. difficile infections. Watch now!
What would you recommend for children. I have two daughters who are 6 and 7. They have both been on massive amounts of antibiotics since they were very young (4 weeks old) with severe ear infections, pneumonias, strep throat, ect. They even have allergies to them. My 6-year-old is allergic to sulfa and my 7-year-old is allergic to zithromax. Any suggestions for what they should take and dosages? They are both on antibiotics currently.
UNI KEY has an excellent probiotic, Flora-Key. It is great for children because it is a powder which you can add to a drink. Dosage goes by body weight, so between 40 and 90 pounds they would take 1/2 the adult amount listed on the label.
Three years ago my 80 year old mother had a bout of bronchitis that, along with her aggravated asthma, caused her brain to become oxygen depleted. Long story short, she fell and went into the hospital to have her oxygen stabilized. She spent two nights and was released. Three days later she began suffering with the typical diarrhea that accompanies C-diff (a kicky little nick name for the ugly clostridium difficile).
I had never heard of it before. I learned very quickly that the obvious sign of C-diff is horribly smelly, very runny, sudden bowel movements, often requiring a potty chair by the patient’s bed. Weakness and loss of appetite are further signs. C-diff is said to be passed from hand to mouth; the invisible but abundant, highly resistant C-diff spores can spread easily to anyone with a compromised immune system.
At the time my mom got it, the typical first response by the medical community was to prescribe an antibiotic that often didn’t work, and then the person was put on a far heavier antibiotic. At one point I was furious at her gastroenterologist who insisted on keeping her on the weak antibiotic for a full month “to let the antibiotic take its course.” Mom’s diarrhea was quite clearly not subsiding. That night her caregivers called me and said she had a particularly bad experience and that “she must go to the hospital.” They were losing their patience. That’s when the doctor put her on the heavier antibiotic.
In Mom’s case, she had C-diff for over nine months. Her primary doctor believed she had a particularly virulent strain. As long as she took the heavy antibiotics, the C-diff was held at bay, but the horrible diarrhea returned every time we attempted to stop the antibiotics.
I became obsessed to find a cure and spent many hours searching the internet. She had lost at least 25 lbs and felt terrible for many months. Sure enough, I found only one doctor out of all my searching who claimed to have had success against clostridium difficile by prescribing large amounts of the yeast based probiotic, Sacharomides Boulardi. I suggested it to my doctor and, thank goodness, S-boulardi was truly a lifesaver for my mom. Her diarrhea didn’t return after that. I wish I had kept track of that doctor’s name so I could thank him.
Dr Ann Louise is absolutely on the button. If a family member or friend suddenly has bad smelling diarrhea after a hospital visit, run as fast as you can to your local health food store for Sacharomides Boulardi. I’m not certain how to spell it, but they’ll know. I’m very relieved to hear it is becoming better known in the medical world!