C. diff is a nasty bug but is not strictly a Third World problem. Lots of people are infected every year here in the USA.
Absolutely correct. My mother went to the care of God in May 2007 after she contracted Cdiff through a pic-line in her wrist and couldn't shake it.
6 different anti-biotics in massive quantities and they just couldn't get the stuff into her fast enough. It killed her in 10 days. Make no mistake, it's a nasty bug.
This all went down in a well-known, high-profile hospital that I won't name, but safe to say - it can easily happen right here in the USA. The best bet is to stay the heck out of the hospital at all costs.
But I'm willing to bet if it killed 300+ patients in one US hospital I'm sure it would get more than a passing mention on page A32.
The first thing that would happen is they'd blame President Bush.
this is not a mystery....
people in a hospital for any length of time are sick, vulnerable....they are prime examples of people that can easily catch an intestinal bug...
so avoid hospitals that have sick people and nursing homes....elderly would be better off at home with their family/kids...
the less exposure for the chronically ill and the elderly, the better....fewer coughs, colds, sneezes, diarrhea, spit, drool, etc etc....
I hate the attitude that people are supposed to live forever, and especially the chronically ill...that dying is just going to be in our sleep, and that we have conquered all diseases...we have not....we are going to die of something...intestinal infection, cancer, heart disease..
there is no getting around it.....
in the states, people with suspected Cdiff are put in a room by themselves, and hopefully people will follow isolation technique, including the familes and friends (not!) and doctors.....