Had C.diff 4 years ago, need a minor surgey and they want to give me antibiotics

[schism]

I had C.diff ~4 years ago and posted on this forum back then. I need a minor surgery to remove a mass in my groin and they want to give me a single shot of antibiotics just before the surgery to prevent any wound infections.

The incision will be about 1in and the surgery will be for ~30min.

They said the antbiotic is Ancef (or NSEF?).

I am trying to determine if I should refuse this preventative antibiotic. What are your thoughts? The doctor told me if I didn't do it and got an infection then I'd need a longer course and that would be more likely to cause c.diff than the single shot dose would.

[NanciT]

Do you gave a GI or ID you can check with?

It's impossible to know if you will get CDIFF. Some on the site have taken a entire course of antibiotics and did not get CDIFF. I was in the ER and given a dose of antibiotics....and did get CDIFF although they gave me Vanco also. This was 5 years after I had the original case of CDIFF.

Its hard to know. It sounds like the surgeon feels its important, check in with your GI.

Good luck with the procedure

NanciT

[schism]

The GI doctor here would not be helpful at all. He would 110% say yes take the antibiotic and not give it even 10sec of thought.

I totally understand there is no way to know if it will cause cdi. I’m just trying to determine what the best risk-reward option is to go with and maybe what else I should do before and after surgery to help avoid CDI.

[NanciT]

It might help to get on probiotics now, then if you decide to get the shot I do believe that can help.

I had a terrible year with CDIFF in 2014-2015 and was finally cured by a Dificid taper. I was sick for a long time.

In 2020 when I was given the IV antibiotic in the ER, I did get CDIFF but now have an ID who gave me a Dificid taper right away. I worked through it and the treatment
It was a very different experience with the knowledge I have now and right doctor willing to review my history and give me what worked for me.

NanciT

[Ril]

I have had 2 surgeries since having c diff and both times received 1 Gram of Ancef IV with no recurrence of c diff. I did take Florastor twice daily before and for a few months after each time.
Everyone has to make their own decision about what is best and whatever decision you make will no doubt cause you anxiety. The second surgery I refused a longer prophylactic course of antibiotics and worried about that but thankfully it turned out fine.

Best of luck with whatever you decide.
Rita

[beth22]

I had 2 surgeries after c difficile and did not take any antibiotics for either. The surgeons were okay with it. The first was a parathyroid surgery where they cut open my neck and removed a parathyroid gland that had an adenoma and took biopsies of two others. The second surgery was later that same year and it was a lumpectomy on a breast. For that one I was told to use this special liquid soap the night before and wash with it and then also the morning of the surgery. I did not get an infection with either surgery.