For: Clostridium difficile (NCTC 11209)
How is Clostridium difficile treated ?
Fortunately, most patients develop only a mild illness and stopping the antibiotics that may have caused the diarrhoea (if possible), together with fluid replacement, either by mouth or intravenous drip, usually results in rapid improvement. Often it is necessary to take an antibiotic active against C. difficile itself. Two antibiotics are known to be effective in treatment. Metronidazole taken by mouth is often prescribed as the first choice for non severe disease; if this is not effective, or for severe disease then another antibiotic, vancomycin, also taken by mouth, may be used. It is important that the full length of antibiotics prescribed for treatment of C. difficile is completed, even if the diarrhoea has gone (otherwise the diarrhoea is more likely to return).
There is a risk of a return of symptoms in about 20-30% of patients and further courses of these antibiotics may be required. Occasionally, other treatments may be tried.
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