What do you really know about C. Diff? 90% of deaths related to C. Diff occur in individuals who are 65 years of age and older, and 1 in 5 people who are infected have recurring infections. In total, C. Diff accounts for roughly 14,000 deaths per year. Read on to learn more about C. Diff and an opportunity to help find a vaccine.
- How can you get C. Diff?
- Well, those at the highest risk are the elderly population, and those taking antibiotics. Most C. Diff cases are a result of ineffective, or lack of infection prevention and control measures.
- How do you know if you have it?
- Symptoms include fever, lack of appetite, nausea, watery diarrhea, and abdominal pain/tenderness.
- How does taking antibiotics contribute to C. Difficile?
- Elevated doses of certain antibiotics used over an extended period of time can increase the probability of contracting a C. Diff infection because antibiotics change the composition of bacteria in the gut. When there are fewer bacteria in the gut, it creates room for C. Diff to come in and produce toxins.
- How can you prevent C. Diff?
- Careful use of antibiotics, and taking the necessary infection prevention and control measures.
- Is C. Diff fatal?
- Diff can cause mild diarrhea, to life-threatening conditions such as: bowel perforation, sepsis, and even death.
Rochester Clinical Research is now seeking interested volunteers for an investigational study for a C. Diff vaccine. If you’re 50 years of age or older and fall within one or more of the categories below, you may qualify.
- Visited the hospital at least once within the past 12 months, for 2 or more nights
OR - Visited the emergency room at least twice within the past 12 months
OR - Visited the doctors at least 12 times within the past 12 months
OR - Live in a nursing facility
OR - Taken an antibiotic within the past 3 months
- Cannot have had C. Diff
- **Please note, other conditions may apply**
Please click on the link below or call 585-288-0890 to learn more or see if you qualify.
