Think twice before you take those antibiotic pills. Their rampant use has increased cases of C. difficile diarrhoea in Mumbai.
Think twice before you take those antibiotic pills. Their rampant use has increased cases of C. difficile diarrhoea in Mumbai.
According to doctors, of the total diarrhoea cases in the city, 15% are clostridium difficile diarrhoea. Considering the rise in such cases, KEM Hospital has decided to start tests on patients.
Infectious disease expert Dr Om Shrivastav of Jaslok Hospital said, “3- 20% of the diarrhoea cases we get could be because of this. People suffering from diarrhoea and not responding to medication are suspected to be cases of C. difficile diarrhoea. We then investigate the offending agent and stop the antibiotic immediately. People get this diarrhoea because of indiscriminate use of antibiotics.”
Dr Tanu Singhnal from Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital & Medical Research Institute said, “In the past one year, we are getting more such cases, especially in hospitalised patients.
There are at least 1-2 cases reported per month. This diarrhoea has a highly virulent strain in the UK, USA and Australia.”
This diarrhoea is highly infectious and patients detected with it should immediately stop antibiotics. If the patient is hospitalised, he should be kept in isolation with a separate washroom and the nurse attending to him should wear gloves. After the patient is discharged, his room and washroom should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
In India, so far the strain has been milder but proper care needs to be taken before it takes a highly virulent form.
In a recent conference organised by Jaslok Hospital, the doctors discussed the need to create more awareness on the indiscriminate use of antibiotics.
“More awareness is required among people and doctors. Doctors these days prescribe antibiotics at the drop of a hat. This not only leads to C. difficile diarrhoea but also makes the person antibiotic resistant. Rampant use of antibiotic should be stopped,” said Dr Singhnal.
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