Treatment FAQ

what to eat after c-diff treatment

by Tyrique McDermott Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Plenty of fluids. Choose fluids containing water, salt and sugar, such as diluted fruit juice, soft drinks and broths. Good nutrition. If you have watery diarrhea, eat starchy foods, such as potatoes, noodles, rice, wheat and oatmeal. Other good choices are saltine crackers, bananas, soup and boiled vegetables.

Recommended foods that could help speed up recovery include:
  • Fluids – Drinking plenty of clear liquids such as water, broths and juices. ...
  • Semi-solid foods – Starchy soft foods, such as saltine crackers, toast, eggs or rice, can be gradually added to the diet as diarrhea symptoms pass.
Mar 20, 2019

Full Answer

What foods to avoid with C diff?

difficile infection may want to avoid or limit the following foods:

  • whole milk or foods made from whole milk, as the person may become sensitive to lactose during the infection
  • acidic or spicy foods
  • greasy or fatty foods
  • raw foods
  • caffeine, which, as a diuretic, can exacerbate fluid loss
  • foods that contain solid fats, total saturated fats, and added sugar, which may reduce colonization odds, according to some research

What foods are good for C diff?

What to Eat

  • Foods high in insoluble fiber
  • Cruciferous vegetables (such as cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and broccoli), turnips, beets, carrots, cabbage
  • Raw vegetables
  • Fried or greasy foods
  • Fatty foods (such as mayonnaise or fatty meats)
  • Spicy foods
  • Whole wheat, wheat bran, wheat cereals
  • Rye
  • Unnatural oils (such as margarine, Olean, or Olestra)

More items...

What are the long term effects of C diff?

  • PPIs and Clostridium difficile(C. difficile) infection
  • PPIs and dementia
  • PPIs and pneumonia
  • PPIs and antiplatelet agents
  • PPIs and kidney disease
  • PPIs and micronutrient deficiency
  • PPIs and bone mineral density

What is the recovery time from C diff?

diff again is to:

  • Work with your healthcare professional to avoid taking unnecessary antibiotics.
  • Tell your healthcare professional if you’ve had a C. diff infection. ...
  • Wash your hands with soap and water every time you use the bathroom and before you eat anything.

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What should you eat when recovering from C diff?

Some animal studies showed that using diets including soluble fiber (oat bran) helped eliminate the C-diff infection sooner than a diet with insoluble fiber (wheat bran). Foods high in soluble fiber include: oats and oat bran, oatmeal, beans, peas, carrots, barley, citrus fruits, strawberries and apple pulp.

What is the best thing to drink when you have C diff?

Choose fluids containing water, salt and sugar, such as diluted fruit juice, soft drinks and broths. Good nutrition. If you have watery diarrhea, eat starchy foods, such as potatoes, noodles, rice, wheat and oatmeal. Other good choices are saltine crackers, bananas, soup and boiled vegetables.

Can you make a full recovery from C diff?

C. difficile infections usually respond well to treatment, with most people making a full recovery in a week or two. However, the symptoms come back in around 1 in 5 cases and treatment may need to be repeated.

How long before stools return to normal after C diff?

Fever usually goes away within 2 days, and diarrhea ends in 2 to 4 days. In about 10-20% of patients, symptoms may recur (return) within 1 to 2 weeks of ending treatment. Tell your healthcare provider if your diarrhea returns.

Is my C. diff getting better?

People with Clostridium difficile infections typically recover within two weeks of starting antibiotic treatment. However, many people become reinfected and need additional therapy. Most recurrences happen one to three weeks after stopping antibiotic therapy, although some occur as long as two or three months later.

What are the after effects of C. diff?

difficile can cause the colon to become inflamed and sometimes form patches of raw tissue that can bleed or produce pus. Signs and symptoms of severe infection include: Watery diarrhea as often as 10 to 15 times a day. Abdominal cramping and pain, which may be severe.

How do I recover my gut after C. diff?

Recommended foods that could help speed up recovery include:Fluids – Drinking plenty of clear liquids such as water, broths and juices. ... Semi-solid foods – Starchy soft foods, such as saltine crackers, toast, eggs or rice, can be gradually added to the diet as diarrhea symptoms pass.More items...•

How do you prevent C. diff from coming back?

The best way to be sure you don't get C. diff again is to work with your healthcare professional to avoid taking unnecessary antibiotics and to wash your hands with soap and water every time you use the bathroom and before you eat anything. If you've had a C. diff infection, tell your healthcare professional.

Does sugar feed C. diff?

According to the Baylor team, part of the rise in epidemic C. difficile infections may be linked to the recent increase in the use of the sugar trehalose in manufactured food products.

Can you still have diarrhea after C. diff is gone?

Treatment of recurrent Clostridium difficile–associated diarrhea can be challenging. Once patients develop recurrent disease, further episodes are common and can continue for months or even a year or more.

How long does vancomycin stay in your system?

In healthy patients, the half-life of vancomycin is between 4 to 6 hours; in patients lacking functional kidneys, the half-life can be as long as 7.5 days.

Can you have solid bowel movement with C. diff?

Formed or hard stools can result in a false positive PCR test. I see patients each year who test positive for C. difficile without the traditional symptoms. While most have either diarrhea or abdominal cramping, sometimes the only symptoms are fever and high white blood cell count.

What are some good foods to eat to heal your gut?

By eating fermented foods you are introducing all sorts of new and beneficial bacteria back into your gut! Try things like: non dairy yogurt, kombucha, kvass, and other probiotic drinks, kimchi, sauerkraut, tempeh, and miso. Eat a little bit of any of these with every single meal. Even just a tablespoon will help at each meal will help.

What nuts are good for candida?

1. most nuts are high in mold— which will also feeds the fungus in your body. Almonds are typically the only nuts recommended after candida and bacterial infections. 2. nuts are very hard to digest. 3. this won’t apply to everyone, but even if you tolerated nuts in the past, you may find that they don’t agree with your body anymore. I actually developed a mild nut allergy after getting c. diff. I ate a huge assortment of nuts before c. diff, but after my infection I would feel ill and have a terrible sore throat after eating nuts! (*tear*) While it doesn’t happen to everyone, it’s not uncommon for new allergies to develop after c. diff. If you do plan on eating nuts (they are a great source of fat and protein), I’d recommend to have them in butter/pureed form (as is, in smoothies, in sauces) so they are easier on your gut– and only in moderation, as nuts are really high in fat which is terrible for blood sugar levels.

What foods are bad for bacteria?

white starchy foods: for the same reason as above. White rice, white breads, pastas, all those yummy high starch foods will also feed bad bacteria.

What fruits should I eat to lower my blood sugar?

If having fruits, try to have low sugar ones, such as blueberries, cranberries, strawberries, kiwi, or papaya. Otherwise I would only recommend eating fruits on a low-fat diet, as to not spike your blood sugar. Sodas, desserts, anything with added and processed sugar, is very bad for you, especially now.

Can you eat raw food after C diff?

Raw foods are very hard to digest after the c. diff has just worked its way to destroy as much of your colon as it can— be gentle to your colon, eat soft and cooked foods in the beginning and add raw foods in, as you can.

How to reduce C difficile symptoms?

According to one study, introducing healthful bacteria into the diet by consuming probiotic-rich foods or a supplement reduces the symptoms of C. difficile.

What are the symptoms of C. difficile?

difficile infection. The symptoms of a C. difficile infection include: watery diarrhea. fever. loss of appetite. nausea. abdominal pain, tenderness, or cramping. fatigue.

How many people died from C. difficile in 2011?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Trusted Source. , nearly 500,000 people were infected with C. difficile in the United States in 2011. Approximately 29,000 people who contracted the infection died within 30 days of diagnosis. Many of these people were over 65 years old.

What is C. difficile?

Treatment. Outlook. C. difficile is a strain of bacteria that causes a severe type of diarrhea and intestinal infection. It may also lead to inflammation of the colon. While it can occur in people of any age, C. difficile ( Clostridium difficile) is most common in older adults. People who have recently taken antibiotics ...

What happens if a doctor identifies C. difficile infection?

If a doctor identifies C. difficile infection, they will start treatment immediately.

How long can C. difficile live on a surface?

This bacteria can contaminate any surface or material that it comes into contact with. C. difficile spores can survive on a surface for up to 5 months without proper decontamination and disinfection. Surfaces where these spores may live include: bathtubs. toilets. showers.

How to diagnose C. difficile?

Diagnosing C. difficile begins with a thorough medical history and physical examination. The doctor will ask when the symptoms began and discuss their severity.

What foods can help with C diff?

These foods include: Probiotics: Probiotics are friendly, live bacteria you need to combat the C. diff germ. They can be found in active yogurt cultures and in fermented foods, such as sauerkraut and miso.

What does C diff mean in diet?

What does your diet have to do with C. diff? Clostridium difficile ( C. diff) is a type of bacteria that can cause severe diarrhea, nausea, fever, and stomach pain. The people most vulnerable to C. diff infection are those in medical care who require antibiotics for an extended period of time. Older individuals may also be at increased risk.

How to get rid of watery diarrhea?

Probiotics help to reduce or eliminate watery diarrhea by putting good bacteria back into the gastrointestinal tract. They’re also available in supplement form. Liquids: To avoid the dehydration that can result from diarrhea, make sure to drink lots of liquid. Water and broth-based soup are both good choices.

What foods are considered cruciferous?

cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts. raw vegetables of any kind. spicy food. fried or greasy food. caffeinated beverages. food with a high fat content, such as mayonnaise. beans. synthetic cooking oils, like Olestra, Olean, and oleomargarine.

What foods help with a swollen intestine?

Fiber: Foods containing soluble fiber may help to move the infection out of your system. Oatmeal, lentils, flaxseed, and oranges may be good choices. Protein-rich foods: Protein sources that are easy to digest include eggs, chicken, and turkey.

What vegetables are non-cruciferous?

Veggies to use include beets, green beans, zucchinis, cucumbers, and celery.

What are the side effects of C diff?

It’s also important to eat foods that can repopulate your gut with the good bacteria you’re lacking. Malabsorption of nutrients is another common side effect of C. diff. During and after treatment, focus on eating foods with high nutritional value.

What is the best diet for C diff?

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics also says that although there is not much research on the best diet for C diff diarrhea, some studies suggest a diet that includes soluble fiber and reduces insoluble fiber.

What is C diff diet?

C diff diet basics include "soft foods" to soothe your stomach. Clostridium difficile infection (C diff) is a bowel infection caused by toxin-producing bacteria. C diff is a serious infection that can range from mild diarrhea to severe inflammation of your colon that can be life threatening. C diff is not caused by anything you eat ...

What is the best treatment for colon cancer?

Other options are vancomycin and fidaxomicin. [1] An emerging alternative treatment is a stool transplant from a healthy stool donor, called a fecal microbiota transplant ( FMT). Studies show that FMT can replace harmful bacteria, like C diff, with healthy bacteria and restore a healthy bacterial balance in your colon.

What is the poison in C diff?

C diff produces a poison (toxin) that is very damaging to your colon. [1,2] C diff infection is more common if you have taken a type of antibiotic that kills lots of different types of bacteria, called a broad-spectrum antibiotic like clindamycin, cephalosporins, and quinolones.

How to get rid of C diff?

Diet changes will not get rid of a C diff infection, but they may help you manage the diarrhea. [2] . One possible change is to add probiotics, which are common in foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, tempeh, or miso. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, live cultures of “friendly bacteria” may be helpful for C diff diarrhea.

Can C diff be treated with diet?

Although C diff can’t be treated with diet, some foods are better for diarrhea. University Health News content is medically reviewed or checked to ensure that it is as accurate as possible.

Can C diff cause fever?

Dangerous infection may cause fever, bloody diarrhea, and a distended, tender belly. If you have any of these symptoms let your doctor know. C diff is diagnosed with stool testing to look for C diff toxins. [1,2]

How to get rid of C diff?

So always wash your hands with soap and water before you eat and after you use the bathroom. Showering and washing with soap is the best way to remove any C. diff germs you might be carrying on your body.

Can you still carry C diff?

No, because once you recover from your C. diff infection, you could still be carrying the germs.

Can you spread C diff after treatment?

Can I still spread C. diff after treatment? The risk of spreading C. diff after completing treatment is low. But if you’re colonized (see the “ Your Risk of C. diff ” page), you can still spread it to others. So always wash your hands with soap and water before you eat and after you use the bathroom. Showering and washing with soap is the best way ...

Can you get C diff again?

This can be a relapse of their original infection, or it can happen when they come in contact with C. diff again. The best way to be sure you don’t get C. diff again is to avoid taking unnecessary antibiotics and to wash your hands with soap and water every time you use the bathroom and before you eat anything.

What is the best treatment for C. difficile?

difficile infection may require one or more of several treatment options, depending on the severity and recurrence of the infection. These include: Antibiotics: Firstly, it is important to stop taking the antibiotic which initially led to the infection; in mild cases, this may be sufficient. ...

Why is it important to have soft foods when you have diarrhea?

Therefore, having an appropriate diet containing soft, easily digestible foods helps to combat loose stools, prevent dehydration from occurring, and recover gut health quicker.

What are some good bacteria?

Probiotics – Live microorganisms or ‘good bacteria’ are found in yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, tempeh (fermented soybean), kimchi ( fermented cabbage), pickles, and kombucha (fermented tea). These help to restore the natural bacteria in the gut, reducing C. difficile symptoms. Probiotic supplements may also be prescribed, or purchased from pharmacies over-the-counter.

What foods help you poop?

Soluble fiber – Foods rich in soluble fiber absorb excess liquid and add bulk to stools. These include: oats, legumes, bananas, oranges, apple pulp and carrots.

What are the nutrients that are needed for diarrhea?

Vitamin-rich foods: The inability to absorb nutrients from food is a common side effect of diarrhea. Foods rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium are important to replenish essential nutrients.

Can Clostridium difficile be fatal?

The symptoms include severe diarrhea, fever, stomach pain, nausea and loss of appetite. The disease may be fatal if left untreated. About 75% of cases are hospital-acquired, and are mostly reported in individuals who have been on antibiotics for a long period ...

Does caffeine cause diarrhea?

Caffeinated drinks: Caffeine irritates the gut, prolonging the healing process. It also acts as a laxative, further contributing to diarrhea. Lactose: Temporary lactose intolerance is a common side effect of a C. difficile infection. Calcium-fortified, non-dairy, milk substitutes are suggested as an alternative to dairy products.

What is the best diet for C diff?

There are c diff diet prevention measures. A diet that includes probiotic yoghurt type products may help when you are about to have a medical procedure. Because antibiotics are used to prevent infection you can be vulnerable to a c.difficle episode. Probiotics will help maintain the chemical/biological balance in your stomach.

What happens when you have C diff?

C Diff diahrrea happens when other bacteria, which would normally hold the c.difficile in check, are killed by antibiotic treatment. Studies are emerging that suggest that a low protein diet can help those with or vulnerable to c diff. These point to the need for more work on the subject but show promise.

What foods cause bloating?

There are several foods that may cause additional abdominal/intestinal bloating and discomfort such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, whole grain breads, onions, beans, nuts, seeds. The toxins in the gastrointestinal tract may increase after eating raw vegetables, and raw fruits produce bloating. Cooking the vegetables and fruits instead of eating them raw will reduce the bloating effects.

Do probiotics help with C difficile?

Probiotics will help maintain the chemical/biological balance in your stomach. This protects the elements that hold the c difficile in check. This will be recommended until the antibiotics are finished. The news headlines below offer recent insight about probiotics and c difficile.

Is there a C diff diet?

There is no c diff avoidance diet.

Can C diff diet be used for C difficile?

There are very few medical studies that suggest a c diff diet for those suffering from a c. difficile infection. So bear in mind that what you read now is general but well regarded wisdom for those with major intestinal illness. There is not a definitive outline of scientific knowledge on this subject at this time.

What is the best treatment for C. difficile?

difficile is another antibiotic. These antibiotics keep C. difficile from growing, which in turn treats diarrhea and other complications. Your doctor may prescribe vancomycin ( Vancocin HCL, Firvanq) or fidaxomicin (Dificid).

How to test for C difficile?

This test (flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy) involves inserting a flexible tube with a small camera on one end into your colon to look for areas of inflammation or abnormal tissue.

What test can detect C difficile toxin B?

Several main types of lab tests exist, and they include: Polymerase chain reaction. This sensitive molecular test can rapidly detect the C. difficile toxin B gene in a stool sample and is highly accurate. GDH/EIA. Some hospitals use a glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) test in conjunction with an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) test.

What to eat if you have diarrhea?

Other good choices are saltine crackers, bananas, soup and boiled vegetables. If you aren't hungry, you may need a liquid diet at first. After your diarrhea clears up, you may have temporary difficulty digesting milk and milk-based products. By Mayo Clinic Staff. C. difficile infection care at Mayo Clinic.

What age can you take antibiotics for C difficile?

Are older than 65. Are taking other antibiotics for a different condition while being treated with antibiotics for C. difficile infection. Have a severe underlying medical disorder, such as chronic kidney failure, inflammatory bowel disease or chronic liver disease. Treatment for recurrent disease may include:

What type of scan is used to diagnose C. difficile?

If your doctor is concerned about possible complications of C. difficile infection, he or she may order an abdominal X-ray or a computerized tomography (CT) scan , which provides images of your colon. The scan can detect the presence of complications such as:

What is the procedure to check for C. difficile?

If your doctor is concerned about possible complications of C. difficile, he or she may order an abdominal X-ray or a computerized tomography (CT) scan, which provides images of your colon. The scan can detect the presence of complications such as thickening of the colon wall, expansion of the bowel or, more rarely, a hole (perforation) in the lining of your colon.

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