Clostridium Difficile Colitis Center - Vancouver, WA
Vancouver 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 Vancouver * Hudson Bay Medical Group  Hudson Bay Medical Group  Vancouver Clinic  Vancouver Clinic  Vancouver Clinic  Pacific Gastroenterology  Vancouver Clinic  Advanced Gastroenterology  Gordon Matlock MD  Richard S Elloway MD  Gastroenterology Associates PLLC  Gastroenterology Associates PLLC  Gastroenterology Associates PLLC  Gastroenterology Associates PLLC  Gastroenterology Associates PLLC  Gastroenterology Associates PLLC  Olympia Multi-Specialty Clinic  Olympia Multi-Specialty Clinic  Olympia Multi-Specialty Clinic  Olympia Multi-Specialty Clinic Vancouver, WashingtonUpcoming Local Events2012-05-27
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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)Stool Color & Texture Changes (Black, Red, Maroon, Green, Yellow, Gray, Tarry, Sticky) » What color is normal stool?Stool (feces) is most commonly brown in color, and many people become curious or concerned when the color of their stool changes. Most stool-to-stool changes in color have little meaning; however, some changes, particularly if the changes are consistent from stool-to-stool and not present in only one stool, can be important. What causes normal stool color?The color of stool is normally due to the presence of bile, specifically, the bilirubin in bile. Bilirubin is formed from hemoglobin after hemoglobin is released from red blood cells during their destruction, a part of the normal process of replacing the red blood cells in blood. The released hemoglobin is modified chemically and removed from the blood by the liver. In the liver the chemically changed hemoglobin (called bilirubin) is attached to other chemicals and secreted from the cells of the liver into bile. Depending on the conc... Other Related Clostridium Difficile Colitis ArticlesEmergency Contact for Vancouver
Nearby Vancouver Hospitals *Southwest Washington Medical Center Memorial Campus Southwest Washington Medical Center Mother Joseph Campus Legacy Emanuel Children's Hospital Legacy Emanuel Medical Center Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center Oregon State Hospital Portland Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center Providence Portland Medical Center Shriners Hospital for Children Oregon Health & Science University Hospital Doernbecher Childrens Hospital at OHSU Portland VA Medical Center Providence St Vincent Medical Center Adventist Medical Center Providence Milwaukie Hospital Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center Tuality Community Hospital Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center  Tuality Forest Grove Hospital  Providence Newberg Hospital 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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Abdominal Pain
- Abdominal pain is pain in the belly and can be acute or chronic. Causes include inflammation, distention of an organ, and loss of the blood supply to an organ. Abdominal pain can reflect a major problem with one of the organs in the abdomen such as the appendix, gallbladder, large and small intestine, pancreas, liver, colon, duodenum, and spleen.
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Diarrhea
- Diarrhea is a change is the frequency and looseness of bowel movements. Cramping, abdominal pain, and the sensation of rectal urgency are all symptoms of diarrhea. Absorbents and anti-motility medications are used to treat diarrhea.
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Crohn's Disease
- Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease, primarily involving the small and large intestine, but which can affect other parts of the digestive system as well. Abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and weight loss are common symptoms.
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Dehydration
- Dehydration is the excessive loss of body water. There are a number of causes of dehydration including heat exposure, prolonged vigorous exercise, and some diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The best way to treat dehydration is to prevent it from occurring.
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Ulcerative Colitis
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Fever
- Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 degrees F. (37 degrees C.), in practice a person is usually not considered to have a significant fever until the temperature is above 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C.). Fever is part of the body's own disease-fighting arsenal: rising body temperatures apparently are capable of killing off many disease- producing organisms.
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Stool Color & Texture Changes (Black, Red, Maroon, Green, Yellow, Gray, Tarry, Sticky)
- Stool color is generally brown. When stool color changes, often, an individual becomes concerned. The presence of the bilirubin in bile is generally responsible for stool color. Bilirubin concentration can vary bile color from light yellow to almost black in color. Changes in bilirubin can cause stool to turn green, gray, or clay-like in color. Intestinal bleeding may turn stool black, tarry, red, maroon, or smelly stool. Medication and food may also affect stool color.
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Colitis
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The Digestive System
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