Clostridium Difficile Colitis Center - Altoona, PA
Altoona Gastroenterologist Doctors for Clostridium Difficile ColitisType of Physician: Gastroenterologist What is a Gastroenterologist? A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners focus on the stomach, intestines, colon, liver, and gallbladder (digestive organs). The gastroenterologist treats conditions such as abdominal pain, ulcers, diarrhea, cancer, and jaundice and they consult with surgeons when abdominal operations are indicated. Specialty: Gastroenterology Common Name: GI Doctor Gastroenterologist Doctors in Altoona * Digestive Disorders Inc  Blair Gastroenterology Associates  Blair Gastroenterology Associates  Blair Gastroenterology Associates  Blair Gastroenterology Associates  Blair Gastroenterology Associates  Blair Gastroenterology Associates  Blair Gastroenterology Associates  James E Schall MD  Huntington Gastroenterology Associates  Huntington Gastroenterology Associates  Digestive Health Physicians  Gastrointestinal Consultants Inc  Gastrointestinal Consultants Inc  Gastrointestinal Consultants Inc  Geisinger Medical Group  DMC Gastroenterology  Mary Anne Barnicle MD  Shirish A Amin MD  Juniata Valley Gastro Association  Juniata Valley Gastro Association  Somerset Surgical Associates  Mohammad J Saadat MD  Chambersburg Gastroenterology Associates Ltd  Chambersburg Gastroenterology Associates Ltd  Chambersburg Gastroenterology Associates Ltd  Chambersburg Gastroenterology Associates Ltd  Chambersburg Gastroenterology Associates Ltd  Chestnut Ridge Primary Care East  The Westmoreland Digestive Disorders Group  The Westmoreland Digestive Disorders Group  The Westmoreland Digestive Disorders Group  The Westmoreland Digestive Disorders Group  Westmoreland Gastroenterology Assoc  Westmoreland Gastroenterology Assoc  Westmoreland Gastroenterology Assoc  Westmoreland Gastroenterology Assoc  Westmoreland Gastroenterology Assoc  Westmoreland Gastroenterology Assoc  Pradeep Kumar MD  Digestive Disease Consultants  Digestive Disease Consultants  Sannasie Chandrasekaran MD  Ronald P Cramer MD  Carlisle Digestive Disease  Carlisle Digestive Disease  Carlisle Digestive Disease  Carlisle Digestive Disease  Digestive Care Consultants PC  Tarek Qutob MD  Rajesh Bajaj MD  Medical Gastroenterology Group  Magee Women's Hospital of UPMC  Joel Kichler MD  Geoffrey D Block MD  Mahesh Varindani MD  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates  Gastroenterology Associates Altoona, PennsylvaniaUpcoming Local Events2012-05-26
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Clostridium Difficile Colitis (Antibiotic-Associated Colitis, C. difficile colitis)What is Clostridium difficile (C. difficile)?Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a bacterium that is related to the bacterium that cause tetanus and botulism. The C. difficile bacterium has two forms, an active, infectious form that cannot survive in the environment for prolonged periods, and a nonactive, "noninfectious" form, called a spore, that can survive in the environment for prolonged periods. Although spores cannot cause infection directly, when they are ingested they transform into the active, infectious form. C. difficile spores are found frequently in:
They can be found on:
They even can be carried by pets. Thus, these environments are a ready source for infection with C. difficile.
What is Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) colitis?Antibiotic-associated (C. difficile) colitis is an infection of the colon caused by C. difficile that occurs primarily among individuals who have been using antibiotics. It is the most common infection acquired by patients while they are in the hospital. More than three million C. difficile infections occur in hospitals in the US each year. After a stay of only two days in a hospital, 10% of patients will develop infection with C. difficile. C. difficile also may be acquired outside of hospitals in the community. It is estimated that 20,000 infections with C. difficile occur in t... Recommended Reading Related to Clostridium Difficile Colitis (Antibiotic-Associated Colitis, C. difficile colitis)What is flexible sigmoidoscopy?Flexible sigmoidoscopy is a procedure that allows your doctor to examine the rectum and the lower (sigmoid) colon. The flexible sigmoidoscope is a flexible tube 60 cm long and about the thickness of your little finger. It is inserted gently into the anus and advanced slowly into the rectum and the lower colon. It is an accurate and simple method of investigating the cause of rectal bleeding, change in bowel habit, and rectal symptoms such as pain and diarrhea. Flexible sigmoidoscopy also is a part of colon screening and surveillance for colon cancer. What is the preparation for flexible sigmoidoscopy?In order to obtain accurate results, the rectum and the lower colon must be completely clean of stool. Your doctor will give you detailed instructions on how to cleanse your colon. In general, this requires the use of one or two enemas prior to the procedure and may also call for a laxative and some dietar... Other Related Clostridium Difficile Colitis ArticlesEmergency Contact for Altoona
Nearby Altoona Hospitals *Altoona Regional Health System Bon Secours Hospital Campus Altoona Regional Hospital James E Van Zandt VA Medical Center HEALTHSOUTH Altoona Rehabilitation Hospital Nason Hospital Tyrone Hospital Miners Medical Center J C Blair Memorial Hospital Windber Medical Center Crichton Rehabilitation Center Memorial Medical Center Lee Campus Good Samaritan Medical Center Memorial Medical Center Select Specialty Hospital Johnstown UPMC Bedford Memorial Mount Nittany Medical Center Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
Suggested Reading on Clostridium Difficile Colitis (Antibiotic-Associated Colitis, C. difficile colitis) by Our Doctors
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Diarrhea
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