The incubation period for Clostridium tetani Infection is from three to twenty - one days. In most cases tetanus is found within 10 days of contact with the bacteria. The incubation period is depending on the severity of the infection. When the wound is deep or more infected with the C. tetani the incubation period will be shorter and the chances of death are high. When contacted with C. tetani some of the symptoms can include involuntary muscle tightening such as stiffness in the jaw which is why it tetanus is also known for lockjaw. Other common symptoms that can occur are headache, fevers, and an elevated blood pressure and heart rate. Tetanus infection can last up to six months or more, depending on the severity and if it is treated as soon as possible. It is possible for death to occur if not treated on time. Researchers have not found a cure but have found how to fight back the bacteria. This disease is run by the Central Nervous System in which control the movement of the body. Other complications that can occur if someone has C. tetani can include having fractured bones due to all the movement of the body. Also complications with breathing because the passageway of air in the throat.…
Every year millions of Americans get an infection in the stomach called Clostridium difficile (aka C-diff). There are antibiotics that can cure it but in the past they haven’t worked as well as expected. They kill off the infection but in the process it destroys good bacteria too. This can cause another infection in the future because your body isn’t powerful enough to prevent it. There are other cures to C-diff too, like fecal transplants. This is the process where stool from a healthy donor is inserted in the colon to prevent another infection. It also restores good bacteria to the body. The only downside is that this procedure is expensive and is a very uncomfortable process. To solve this problem, Dr. Thomas Louie and…
Oughton, M. T., Loo, V. G., Dendukuri, N., & Fenn, S. (2009). Hand hygiene with soap and water is superior to alcohol rub. The Society for Healthcare…
Clostridium difficile is often called C. Diff or C. difficile, is a bacterium that may cause symptoms from diarrhea to life-threatening inflammation of the colon (Mayo Clinic, 2013). C. difficile affects mostly older adults in log-term health care facilities or hospitals. C. diff usually occurs after one use’s antibiotic medications for long periods of time. Now-a-days C. diff is affecting people who are not normally considered high risk, such as healthy adults and younger adults without exposure to health care facilities or without a history of antibiotic use. Clostridium difficile is shed in feces. Any material, device, or surface that may become contaminated may transmit C. Diff. C. Diff is transferred to patients by health care professionals, who came into contact with the contaminated item or surface.…
The US centers for disease control has established guidelines for reducing health- care associated infections, in which evidence suggests to be effective. However, adherence to these guidelines remain poor. A recent review showed that observed adherence to hand hygiene was 52% (range 27-86%), and glove compliance and the use of gown or other protective clothing was 62% (range 11-98%) and 57% (range 8-93%) respectively (Ong, Magrabi, Post, Morris, Westbrook,…
Clostridium Difficle is a nosocomial infection acquired mostly in hospitals. In 2005 it was consider the most precarious infection to bombard North American in a decade. Armed with knowledge about the infection, transmission, environmental factors, alternative treatments, prevention and ways to control C.diff healthcare workers can better be prepared to help fight the spread of this deadly infection. A…
Through my research, I’ve found that the seemingly best way to prevent Clostridium perfringens is to…
Clostridium Difficile is an infectious disease that is healthcare related requiring immediate attention by hospital staff. If left untreated this disease can become fatal. The mortality rate for patients that are diagnosed with severe Clostridium Difficile is 30 to 85 percent of patients that h better education for staff about the symptoms and means of spreading , prescribing fewer antibiotics unnecessarily, and introducing ways to help the patient deal with the antibiotics, and berrer hand washing for all staff ("Clostridium Difficile Infection," 2010). By making sure, that all health providers clean their hands with soap and water before and after caring for a patient, we can prevent the spread of this infection ("Clostridium Difficile Infection," 2010). Treatment for Clostridium Difficile can depend on the severity of the symptoms that are presented (Keske & Letizia, 2010).…
Clostridium Difficile, C. difficile or more commonly called C. diff. belongs to the “domain bacteria which makes it a prokaryotic, its Phylum is Firmicutes, its class is Clostridia, its order is clostridiales, its family is Peptostreptococcaceae” (Brymer). “Clostridium difficile is a spore-forming, Gram-positive anaerobic bacillus that produces two exotoxins: toxin A and toxin B. It is a common cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD). It accounts for 15-25% of all episodes of AAD.” [1] The two toxins produced by C. diff are toxin A and toxin B. “Toxin A is an enterotoxin and cytotoxin that causes fluid secretion and increased musical permeability because of the increased inflammation” (Brymer). “Toxin B is a cytotoxin, that bind to…
Patients with moderate and severe disease who have a variety of symptoms like fever, anemia, and sedimentation rate of over 30mm/hour should be referred to their physicians as they are considered poor candidates for dental treatment.” Patients susceptible to infections can be prescribed antibiotics but must be monitored for C.difficile. Topical steroids are beneficial for oral lesions of Crohn’s…
The delicatessen purchased 1400 pounds of raw salt-cured corned beef. They boiled the corned beef for three hours. The meat was allowed to cool at room temperature and placed in a refrigerator. On March 18, the beef was placed in a warner at 120ºF, sliced, and served. In addition, sandwiches for catering were prepared, stored at room temperature, and eaten throughout the day. In addition to diarrheal symptoms, 88% reported abdominal cramping and 13% reported vomiting. No one was hospitalized ("Clostridium perfringens gastroenteritis associated with corned beef served at St. Patrick’s day meals - Ohio and Virginia, 1993," 1994). This is a clear example of poor temperature control. The meat was allowed to cool at room temperatures thus, propagating the rapid spread of spores. Then, prior to consumption the meat was never heated to the proper temperatures to kill the growing…
DS was admitted to the hospital for a ventral hernia repair and a small bowel resection on January 30, 2011. During recovery from the surgery, DS acquired Clostridium Difficile. She also has a history of hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and has suffered a myocardial infarction. DS smokes a pack of cigarettes daily and states she is guilty of eating poorly. She said she does not take her “heart pill” routinely and deserves all the health issues she has had.…
To be able to minimise the spread of infection in the environment, all members of staff have to be trained in all aspects of infection control and the methods of waste management. National standards apply to all areas of infection control and the hospital environment by providing the staff with updated training, carrying out cleaning schedules using the correct methods and materials for each task. All staff members are responsible for reducing the risk of infection and contamination…
Clostridium difficile is the causative organism of antibiotic-associated colitis. Colonization of the intestinal tract occurs…
Social hand washing is a useful method for removing dirt and transient micro-organisms. Using soap or an alcohol-based gel if hands are not soiled, vigorously clean your hands using the eight stages of hand-washing. This can stop transmission of the transient micro-organisms when in direct contact with patients (NHS, 2009). Alcohol-based hand rubs or gels should not be used alone when infection is present as this alone will not kill the spores for infection such as clostridium difficile. After washing hands must be dried properly as failure to do this can increase the transfer of bacteria (Nottingham University Hospitals, 2011).…