Cdiff and E. coli

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tarap
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Cdiff and E. coli

Postby tarap » Mon May 27, 2019 11:55 am

I just got my test back positive for E. coli and cdiff after 11 months cdiff free no antibiotic use. I’m starting dificid today. Any idea how long till I will start to see improvement

Ril
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Re: Cdiff and E. coli

Postby Ril » Mon May 27, 2019 12:04 pm

Are you sure you are positive for c diff toxins and not just the presence of c diff? E. coli will give you the d symptom the same as c diff colitis but if you don’t have the toxins you don’t have the disease and it is E. coli giving you the d.

tarap
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Re: Cdiff and E. coli

Postby tarap » Mon May 27, 2019 1:06 pm

Yes I asked if it was positive for toxins and they said yes.

roy
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Re: Cdiff and E. coli

Postby roy » Mon May 27, 2019 1:19 pm

A PCR does not directly detect toxins but an inexperianced Dr might wrongly read it as if toxins have been detected.
Both E.coli and C.diff can be "normal" gut flora.
A PCR test is often followed with an EIA (toxin test) to confirm the result.

Whyme111
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Re: Cdiff and E. coli

Postby Whyme111 » Mon May 27, 2019 2:03 pm

Roy, how long does it typically take to get the test back to confirm toxins?

roy
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Re: Cdiff and E. coli

Postby roy » Mon May 27, 2019 2:07 pm

in ER about 4 hours but several days at normal Drs surgery.

If symptoms are vague/mild a PCR might no be the best test.
They should treat their patient not the test result.

tarap
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Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2018 8:49 am

Re: Cdiff and E. coli

Postby tarap » Mon May 27, 2019 2:20 pm

I’m not sure I can do a screen shot of the result but it says positive for cdiff toxin a/b. I asked before they sent me this if I was positive for the toxin or the antigen. She said she was never asked that before and looked and said the toxin. My symptoms did get worse yesterday Felt very much like cdiff. The last 7 days something was wrong but I wasn’t for sure what.

LHutz
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Re: Cdiff and E. coli

Postby LHutz » Tue May 28, 2019 8:21 pm

Wouldn't it be odd to have an active infection from both c diff and ecoli at the same time since an active c. diff infection basically means that the c. diff bacteria took over the gut and essentially wiped out the other flora?

roy
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Re: Cdiff and E. coli

Postby roy » Wed May 29, 2019 3:37 am

C.diff does not wipe out other bacteria.
It's the antibiotics, including c.diff treatment, that's responsible for the damage caused.
its 100% possible to have several POTENTIALY pathogenic organisms inside us
In fact it's probably much more unlikely that they would not be there!

Ril
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Re: Cdiff and E. coli

Postby Ril » Wed May 29, 2019 9:39 am

Feeling like something is wrong and having c diff colitis is very different. I’d be very careful before starting antibiotics but that’s up to you. Multiple episodes of watery d is the general indicator of disease. You have no history of recent risk factors. It seems that the only reason you were even tested was because you had c diff 11 months ago or you might only have been tested for E. coli or not tested at all.

Zapper
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Re: Cdiff and E. coli

Postby Zapper » Wed May 29, 2019 12:20 pm

I just want to jump in to say I test positive for cdiff with every test, however we only treat if there are symptoms. I had norwalk virus and tested positive for norwalk AND cdiff... I waited a week for the noro to get better and the D stopped and life went on as usual.
I would not be surprised that the D was from ecoli and not cdiff itself. Obviously, you know your body best but I like to advocate to wait it out especially if you have another virus/infection that could be causing the D.


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