Crohn's treatment with antibiotics

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-2005
Crohn's treatment with antibiotics
14
Thu, 12-29-2005 - 6:47pm
hello- has anyone heard of any dr's treating Crohn's with antibiotics? my friend did such treatment and has been symptom free for about 3 years. My husband says to stop being an amateur physician and that it is not proven to work. I say that if there is even a 5 percent chance that it will cure him it is worth it. Many dr's in other countries are treating crohns with antibiotics and having very good results. he is on 6MP and prednisone now and those arent drugs that should be taken lightly so why is he so against antibiotics? help!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-09-2006
Tue, 01-10-2006 - 7:05pm
You know it seems like i have had that grumbling some. My guess is that it's just our over active bowels but i don't know that for sure. i take Xifaxan. and what is C.difficile. I don't know that i've ever heard of anything like that before.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-09-2006
Tue, 01-10-2006 - 7:07pm
I was diagnosed in feb. right after i turned 14. I'm 19 now. so not that long but long enough definitely.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-2005
Wed, 01-11-2006 - 1:42pm
C. difficile is a bacteria that lives in the gut, but only if the ph has been altered I guess, usually by taking prilosec or pepcid ac, or drugs that lower the acid in the stomach. But there is an article in us news and world report about how we as americans abuse antibiotics, the fact that antibiotics are againg and different little bugs are getting more and more resistant and stronger, thus becoming more dangerous. Please note though that it says this mostly is a problem in vulnerable patients. Go to http://www.usnews.com/usnews/health/articles/060109/9resist.htm to read the article and if that doesnt pull it up you can go to usnew.com, go into the health section at the top and search for an article called 'bugs behaving badly' on january 9, 2006. you may want to look at getting some PH drops for your water to keep your body alkaline. I wouldnt worry too much though, as you know there are risks with everything we take and there are risks if you don't take anything. So are you on the antibiotic to actually put your crohns in remission or are you on it because you have an infection? Hopefully you are on it because your Dr is a forward thinker and is seeing how other countries are treating it and having success. BTW- is this just going to you or is it on the board?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Wed, 01-11-2006 - 6:06pm

Clostridium difficile or C. difficile is a bacterium that causes diarrhea and more serious intestinal conditions such as colitis. It is the most common cause of infectious diarrhea in hospitalized patients in the industrialized world. It is also one of the most common infections in hospitals and long-term care facilities.


The use of antibiotics increases the chances of developing C. difficile diarrhea. Treatment with antibiotics alters the normal levels of good bacteria found in the intestines and colon. When there are fewer of these good bacteria, C. difficile can thrive and produce toxins that can cause an infection. The combination of the presence of C. difficile in hospitals and health care settings and the number of people receiving antibiotics in these settings can lead to frequent outbreaks.


In these settings, C. difficile infections can be limited through careful use of antibiotics and the use of routine infection control measures.


Healthy people are not usually vulnerable to C. difficile. People who have other illnesses or conditions requiring prolonged use of antibiotics and the elderly are at greater risk of infection. C. difficile bacteria are found in feces. People can become infected if they touch items or surfaces that are contaminated with feces and then touch their mouths or mucous membranes. Health care workers can spread the bacteria to other patients or contaminate surfaces through hand contact.


Hope this helps you to understand a bit about it.

 

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