How can you get a positive c diff result, but not have c diff?

[KileyZ]

Hi All,
I am curious if someone can explain how you can get a positive c diff result but not have c diff "disease," as one poster put it. Can someone explain that?
Thank you,
Kiley

[Musings]

Some people are carriers of c. diff or have non-toxin producing c.diff which may result in a positive test but does not mean that the c. diff is active or causing symptoms. For example, I seem to always test positive for the c.diff antigen but am not currently having c.diff symptoms so am not seeking or planning on treatment.

~Lauren

[roy]

C.diff is a naturally occouring gut bacteria.
70% of babies carry it in their gut and 1 in 20 adults carry it.
Around 20% of pets carry it.
That is called being colonised and is just a form of normal.
None of the above need treating, but would test positive.
A normal balance of gut flora will keep c.diff under control
C.diff only becomes a disease if the good gut flora is compromised and c.diff overgrows and then it becomes a disease.
The full name of the disease is clostridium difficile colitis.
Having c.diff in your gut only becomes a disease if it causes colitis.
Many potentially nasty bugs live on or in you.
None are a problem unless they are out of normal proportions or get into the wrong place.
Our body's are teeming with bacteria, some good and some bad but unless the bad are causing problems it's best to let nature keep us healthy.
If your feeling bored Google "belly button bacteria"
If you knew what lives in there it would freak you out!
None of it needs treating though.

[KileyZ]

Thanks for the explanations Roy and Lauren. If someone tests positive for the toxin, does that mean that they have the disease form of c diff?

[roy]

No
Its perfectly possible to be immune to the effects of the toxin. (That's how the vaccine will work)
Or the toxin is too weak to make you sick.
All colonisation is detected by the toxin being detected.
That's why the rules say do not test solid stool and do not test to try and prove a cure.
That rule protects the patient against a Dr that does not understand that a positive test without colitis means someone does not need treating.

[KileyZ]

Okay, thanks again for the explanation. I think that just might be me. What happens if you get treated for it, but don't have the disease?

In my case, I'm on vanco (125 mg,4 x's a day for 14 days). I was having lots of gas and abdominal cramping with "looser" bowel movements that were actually getting a bit better when I learned of the positive result from the doctor. Now, one week in, I still have the gas and abdominal cramping, maybe even worse than before, no diarrhea, but large BM, just one, in the mornings. But, lots of cramping throughout the night.

If you get treated without having it, do you just really mess up your gut flora?

[roy]

Yes vanco does mess with your flora it kills around 20% of the gut flora species.!,
With average luck you should be ok but be very cautious if the Dr wants to test to see if your "cured"
Beth is someone who started with mild symptoms and treating made her worse.
Don't stop the vanco without consulting your Dr though.

[Bobbie]

Sometims retesting can be done too soon.

See viewtopic.php?f=7&t=13367#p82408 at the beginning of the Feneral Discussion Forum.

[KileyZ]

I actually asked about retesting to see if I'm cured and my doctor pushed back saying we'd test only if after I finished I still had symptoms, so I guess that's a good sign that he's knowledgeable!

Now I seem to be having bladder issues - feel like I have to go to the restroom all the time. I saw that on a lot of vanco side effects info.

Is this yeast-related? Does it go away after you stop the medication?

[beth22]

You can get UTI symptoms when you are on vanco. Several other posters mentioned it. I was the one who should not have been treated. But, you are on a lower dose than I was given. I was given 250mg tabs not 125mg. I had it the year before and my body took care of it. I wish I had not treated, but hindsight is always 20/20.

[amyc]

Once you start a course of meds you really should finish it so you don't under treat a mild infection, or select for mildly resistant bacteria, which can then come back to cause a more serious infection after you stop treatment. It's definitely worth discussing your concerns with your doctor though. It's their job to help you.

[amyc]

The bladder discomfort should go away after treatment. A lot of us seem to get that while taking vancomycin. I would doubt it's related to yeast.

[KileyZ]

Okay, thank you. Yes, I see a LOT of people have the bladder issues on vanco.

Yes, I will definitely keep taking the vanco till the end. I do not want to create any super bugs!

Thank you again for all your explanations. I appreciate it!

[NanciT]

I also want to add YES, Vanco can irritate the bladder, I was on it for 3 months and had bladder pain issues and also Yeast infections. If you look this up in the search bar, you can read the threads.
My urologist recommended D Mannose, speak with your MD about it.
Hope you feel better soon

NanciT

[KLor]

I also have ongoing bladder/urethra irritation after vanco and Dificid, and I've found marshmallow root capsules very soothing. Claritin also, strangely, kicked the urethra pain out for a while. Just some ideas to hopefully help get you through.