Clostridium difficile ribotype 027

Clostridium difficile ribotype 027

Answer 1

Degeneration of the innate aortic valve is a very common disease in the elderly population and aortic valve replacement is the best possible solution available to increase the life expectancy of the elderly patients usually above the age of 70 years (Ashikhmina et.al, 2011). After an aortic valve replacement surgery the patient is shifted to an intensive care unit and for the first 24 to 48 hours the vitals and activity of the major organs including heart and lungs is closely monitored. During the recovery period a urinary catheter is placed in the bladder so that the patient can pass the urine with ease and a check can be maintained on the input and output of the volume (NHS, 2012). The prolonged use of urinary catheter in post-surgical patients is the main reason of nosocomial urinary tract infections (Wald, 2008). 90 to 100% of the elderly patients need long term catheterization and are at the great risk to develop bacteriuria (Brusch & Bronze, 2013). Ticarcillin Clavulanate is indicated in susceptible bacterial septicemia and bacterial infections of the urinary tract (MPR, 2013).

The patient is 83 years old male suffering from UTI during a post-surgical procedure, therefore the drug of choice to overcome the bacterial septicemia in this case is Ticarcillin Clavulanate.

Answer 2

The two predisposing factors in this patient's case which leads to Clostridium difficile infection are:

Currently using antibiotics, using multiple antibiotics or using broad spectrum antibiotics for a longer duration (Owens, C., R., 2008). Since the patient is in recovery stage after aortic valve replacement surgery and initially was given Ticarcillin Clavulanate to overcome urinary tract infection and later Vancomycin and metronidazole was also added to the regimen. Old age patients usually take medications like antacids and proton pump inhibitors to reduce stomach acidic secretions and this is also one of the risk factors associated to Clostridium difficile infections.

Old age is one of the major predisposing factors for Clostridium difficile infection. People over the age of 65 years are 10 times at a greater risk to suffer from this bacterial infection as compared to the young patients. Elderly people are suffering from one or more underlying disease due to declining age and this also contributes positively in the development of Clostridium difficile infections (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2011).

Answer 3

Clostridium difficile is the type of microbe present all over the environment. It is an air borne infection and the bacterial strains are present in the soil, air, water, animal and human waste, food products and also the processed meat. The common sources of contamination are toilets, bed covers, skin unless the objects are cleansed thoroughly by disinfectants. Healthy people carry a blend of natural microbial flora as well as Clostridium difficile within the large intestine. Excessive and prolonged use of antibiotics destroys the healthy bacteria along with the harmful bacteria. The decrease in the concentration of healthy bacteria allows Clostridium difficile to grow and cause infection (NHS, ...