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CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE SUPPORT GROUP DATABASE REPORT
_*Note: This report also was included in the Ezine Vol. 1, Issue 2*_
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Clostridium Difficile Support Group Database Report
Compilation Date: September 30, 2001

 

Total Individual Cases Submitted: 53
Female: 81%
Male: 19%

 

Age Range: 5 months to 78 years of age

 

Age Category Ranges Affected:
0-5yr: 9%
6-10yr: 4%
11-15yr:-
16-20yr:2%
21-30yr:15%
31-40yr:19%
41-50yr:23%
51-60yr:13%
61-70yr:9%
71-80yr:6%

 

As you can see the most common range is 21-60 with a higher concentration in 31-50.  These numbers could be skewed due to very young people not reporting on their own and elderly persons who may not be using computers and reporting as much as the middle aged group (which tends to be more active on the internet).  C.Diff used to be more common in nursing homes and hospitals in the elderly.  It is increasingly affecting younger people.  There are many variables which may be affecting the overall accuracy of the numbers.

 

Number of Countries Reporting: 6

 

Countries Reporting: 
USA (44 cases)
Canada (6 cases)
England (1 case)
Bahamas (1)
Norway (1)
Australia (1)

 

Number of States Reporting: 20

 

States Reporting & Percentage of Cases: 
9% each MN.
8% each PA,WA,CA.
6% each IL,NC,NY,IL.
4% each MD,FL,GA.
2% each CO,MA,RI,WV,WI,OH,VA,NJ,TX.

 

Length of Illness Range: 3 days to 20 years.

 

**Note: The above length of illness range numbers are not very realistic.  One person posted 20 years & another posted 8 years.  Both had other recurring bowel problems which they may have been associating with c.diff.  Data shows that most cases reported lengths of a week to just under a year.  There were a few that were over a year.  From this we can reasonably conclude that the majority of recurring or continuous cases reported to us were approximately 3 to 9 months in duration.  Also remember that most people who contract c. diff are successfully treated with one course of antibiotics.  Most recover with 1 prescription of antibiotics (7-10 days).  People who are reporting to this database are somewhat atypical in that they have had difficulty in recovering and don't represent the overall general population. It is reasonable to assume, however, that the people who reported to us do represent an accurate sampling of those who have recurrent c. diff.

 

**Note: Throughout the report, some of the percentages will not add up to 100% due to participants who did not report certain information - or - who used more than one medication, more than one doctor, etc.

 

Number of Recurring C. Diff Infections:

 

Continuously infected: 19%
More than 2 recurrences: 45%
Zero recurrences: 21%

 

Most Common Prescribed Medications:

 

Flagyl: 85%
Vancomycin: 62%
Flagyl then, Vanco: 47%
Cholestyramine: 2%
Questran: 2%
Rifampin: 2%

 

Most Commonly Used Supplements:

 

Acidophilus - all forms: 60%
S. Boulardii: 13%
Not taking supplements/not listed: 27%

 

**Note: all forms of acidophilus includes yogurt, lactobacillus and all forms of acidophilus products-inlcuding Culturelle.

 

Patients Reported Their Suspected Causes of Contracting C.Diff:
**This is patient's opinion - not necessarily diagnosed**

 

Antibiotic usage for other illness: 75%
Hospital stay: 8%
Unknown (no apparent related cause): 6%
Infection: 4%
Diaper handling in daycare: 2%

 

Antibiotics Listed by Patient Within Suspected Causes Field:

 

Levofloxin
Flagyl/Metro/Metronidazole
Cephalexin
Zithromax (3)
Ceftin (3)
Albenza
Cleocin (2)
Clindamycin (3)
Ampicillin
Augmentin (3)
Levaquin (2)
Ciproflaxin/Cipro (4)
Suprax
Amoxicillin (2)

 

**Note: The spelling and appropriate identification on the above antibiotics may be partially inaccurate due to reporting errors.  The numbers following the antibiotic indicates how many times it was reported more than once.

 

Related Illnesses/Events Patients Reported Prior to Having C. Diff:

 

Ear infection(4)
IBS (4)
Sepsis
UTI (5)
Diarrhea (2)
Bacterial infection
hysterectomy
mastitis
breast infection
sinus infection (4)
dental surgery (3)
prostrate biopsy
BPH
GERD
proctitis
salmonella
surgery
viral infection
appendicitis
ovarian surgery
epidydimitis
emphysema
wound infection
erysipelas
chronic intestinal problems

 

Patients Requiring Hospitalization: 49%

 

Patients Reporting Free of Symptoms: 6%

 

**Note: Again, the above number is possibly skewed. Most people who recover would not bother reporting to the database as they get on with a normal  lifestyle. Most people are so happy to be rid of c. diff that they would rather forget about it.

 

Types of Physicians Patients Reported Visiting:

 

Family/General Practitioner: 60%
Gastroenterologist: 62%
Infectious Disease Specialist: 9%
Pediatrician: 6%
OBGYN: 6%
Internal Medicine: 6%
Naturopathic: 6%
Urologist: 4%
Acupuncture: 2%
Chinese Herbologist: 2%

 

Patients Reported the Following May Have Helped:

 

Supplements (all): 11%
Modified Diet: 9%
"Pulse Dosing & Tapering" Vanco: 9%
Vanco: 6%
Flagyl: 6%
Rifampin: 2%
Synsorb Clinical Trials: 2%
Stool Enemas: 2%
Assertiveness with their MD: 2%
Vitamins: 2%

 

Patients Reported What They Feel Worsened Their Condition:

 

Misdiagnosis: 25%
Flagyl: 11%
Wrong Foods: 9%
Anti-diarrhea Meds: 8%
Ciproflaxin: 2%

 

-----END OF REPORT---------