Other news for: Aging Antibiotics Diarrhea Physicians Gastrointestinal Diseases Hospitals Infection Resources from HONselect Antibiotics May Not Cause Diarrheal Bacteria Since testing is often on those already on drugs, some diagnoses could be wrong, study says By Kevin McKeever FRIDAY, Oct. 10 (HealthDay News) -- A new study questions the commonly held belief that intestinal Clostridium difficile ( C. difficile ) infections are always preceded by antibiotic use. Researchers with McGill University and the Jewish General Hospital found that slightly more than half of senior citizens who acquired C. difficile infections before hospitalization had not been on antibiotics in the 45 days before being admitted. The total dropped only slightly, to 46 percent, when the timeframe was extended to 90 days. C. difficile infections often cause diarrhea and sometimes more serious intestinal conditions such as colitis. "These figures show that approximately 50 percent of community-acquired C. difficile infections are not related to antibiotic use," researcher Sandra Dial, who works in the cardiovascular and respiratory health groups in McGill's Research Institute, said in a news release issued by the two organizations. "While antibiotic use indeed plays an important role, other factors are likely to also be important. But we still need to determine what these other risk factors are." In fact, this study found that the highest risk of C. difficile infection from antibiotic use happens in the 30 days following treatment. "Beyond the 45-day period following treatment, the risk declines significantly," Dial said. This study was published in the Oct. 6 issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal . "We believe that all patients suffering from diarrhea, particularly if severe enough to require a hospital visit, should be tested for C. difficile at their arrival in the hospital. Right now, testing is mainly done on patients who have taken antibiotics, which probably means that not everyone is receiving a correct diagnosis," Dial said. More information The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about C. difficile infections . SOURCE: Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre and Jewish General Hospital, news release, Oct. 6, 2008 Copyright © 2008 ScoutNews, LLC . All rights reserved.URL:http://www.healthscout.com/template.asp?id=619988 Resources from HONselect: HONselect is the HON's medical search engine. It retrieves scientific articles, images, conferences and web sites on the selected subject. The list of medical terms above are retrieved automatically from the article. Disclaimer: The text presented on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. It is for your information only and may not represent your true individual medical situation. Do not hesitate to consult your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns. Do not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting a qualified healthcare professional. Be advised that HealthDay articles are derived from various sources and may not reflect your own country regulations. The Health On the Net Foundation does not endorse opinions, products, or services that may appear in HealthDay articles.

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Last modified:  Oct 11 2008

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