CDAD is a medical condition caused by the bacterium C. difficile, which infects the body and produces two exotoxins, resulting in diarrhea and colitis. The bacterium is spore-forming and commonly found in feces. Misuse of antibiotics and certain medications increase the risk of CDAD, which can be fatal in severe cases. Prevention includes frequent hand washing, and treatment may require medication or surgery.
CDAD stands for the medical condition called Clostridium Difficile Associated Disease caused by the bacterium C. difficile. In people with the condition, a bacterium that produces two exotoxins infects the body. These two exotoxins are identified as toxin A and B, or enterotoxin and cytotoxin.
The condition is usually associated with diarrhea and other threatening intestinal problems, such as colitis. Colitis is a disease of the digestive system characterized by inflammation of the colon. It results in tenderness, pain, bleeding and fever.
The bacterium that causes CDAD is anaerobic and spore-forming, meaning it does not need oxygen to grow and survive. As a result, this bacterium can easily infect a person’s body. The bacteria are commonly found in the feces of people suffering from the disease. Therefore, CDAD can be easily acquired if a person touches areas contaminated with feces and then brings a hand to their mouth or mucous membranes.
Individuals who misuse antibiotics are at an increased risk of developing CDAD. Those at risk also include consumers of drugs manufactured for gastric ulcers and those who have undergone cytotoxic chemotherapy. CDAD is most commonly found in the elderly, and some home health care providers have been known to spread the disease among patients. To prevent the spread of CDAD, hands should be washed as often as possible, particularly when caring for an infected patient.
Some symptoms of a CDAD infection include watery diarrhea three times a day for a few days, fever, loss of appetite, nausea, and abdominal pain. Mild cases can be treated if the patient is no longer taking antibiotics for other purposes. Severe cases, however, can cause dehydration and fatal complications. In such cases, CDAD must be treated with medication or surgery.
Nearly 70% of people who become infected with CDAD survive the infection. However, it can lead to a condition known as megacolon, in which the lower gastrointestinal tract dilates abnormally. If this occurs, it can be fatal.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
