In the past few years, the bacterium has grown “Clostridium difficile” widely spread. It produces toxins that can cause inflammation of the intestine and life-threatening diarrhea. The assumption that it is a pure hospital germ is probably not correct. According to the latest research, the pathogen can spread not only in clinics where the intestinal flora of the patient is weakened by antibiotics.
Clostridium infections are highly contagious. The bacteria are excreted in the stool, but also stay outside the gastrointestinal tract. In this way, they can be transmitted from person to person as well as over surfaces and objects. Toilets, door handles or the like are predestined for this. If the germ gets from hand to mouth, the affected person is infected. Lubricating infection means that in the technical language.
Outbreak also outside the hospital
Through intensive hygiene and the administration of various antibiotics, hospitals tried to combat the spread of the bacteria. With manageable success. An international team of researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA) and the University of Vienna therefore examined the types and occurrences of the pathogen more closely.
As part of a long-term observation, the scientists found that the Clostridium infection can break out after any intestinal disorder. Not only when the immune system is weakened by hospitalization and medication. In one subject, the rod bacteria could be detected immediately after food poisoning.
Bacterium initially “hidden”
How can that be? “Clostridium difficile” is more stubborn than expected. The current study shows: Even months – even years – after the infection it remains in the intestine. The occurrence fluctuates from day to day. The patient initially does not notice anything. Only after an intestinal disease does the germ settle in the weakened digestive tract and the disease breaks out.
