QuestionMargot,
I wrote previously concerning my FIL and was impressed with your answers to my questions.
Can you explain "c-diff" and "mrsa" to me? These are terms that were thrown at me last night from his nurse.
Thank you
AnswerHi Kaye and thanks for writing again.
C. Diff [Clostridium difficile] is a bacterial normally found in our intestines. C. Diff often causes a sever infection of the colon, often after the normal bacteria have e obliterated by antibiotic therapy. C. Diff infections cause extreme watery diarrhea which has a specific odor and can be life-threatening to older, frail patients. People need IV fluid replacement and antibiotic therapy to treat it.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a strain of Staph Aureus bacteria that has developed resistance to all Penicillin drugs including Methicillin. It can be found in the nose, respiratory tract, open wounds and urine.Frial patients and those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of developing a secondary infection. MRSA infections are generally treated with Vancomycin, although some new MRSAs are even resistant to Vancomycin. Although we do not consider MRSA to be a "super bug", it is a serious infection and requires strict infection control routines to prevent its spread.
Unfortunately, both C. Diff & MRSA are common in Acute Care facilities around North America today, and many patients catch these bugs while in hospital for other treatments.
I hope this helps and I hope your FIL gets well soon.
All my best,
Margot
