What is Clostridium Difficile (C-DIFF)
Clostridium Difficile is a spore forming bacterium which presents as one of the
normal bacteria in the gut of up to 3% of healthy adults. Clostridium Difficile
can cause illness when certain antibiotics disturb the balance of "normal" bacteria
in the gut. Its effects can range from:
- nothing in some cases
- diarrhoea of varying severity
- severe inflammation of the bowel
Other symptoms may include:
- fever
- loss of appetite
- nausea, and
- abdominal tenderness
In a small number of cases, patients have died from complicating factors arising
from Clostridium Difficile infection.
To find out more about C-Diff including:
- How does C-Diff spread?
- Treatment for C-Diff
- How to claim compensation for C-Diff
please read our Guide.
Can I make a claim?
Anyone affected by Clostridium Difficile has the potential to claim compensation
from the Health Authority or Hospital Trust responsible for the provision of medical
services at the hospital concerned.
Claimants who have contracted MRSA (another hospital acquired infection) have had
some success in bringing claims under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health
Regulations (COSHH) and there is no reason why these Regulations should not apply
to C-diff cases.
If the patient can prove the hospital has failed to follow its infection control
policies and that this has resulted in a patient contracting Clostridium Difficile,
a hospital may incur liability for any injury caused to the patient as a result.
Clostridium Difficile cases often go further than simply whether or not a patient
contracted the infection as a consequence of negligence on the part of the Hospital
Trust in the first place. There might, for instance:
- a negligent delay in diagnosis of an infected patient resulting in a delay in giving
the patient the treatment which they needed.
- a patient’s management after diagnosis, eg did they receive the right antibiotics
and the correct treatment course?
Compensation claims include:
- pain and suffering
- loss of past and future earnings
- cost of care and assistance
- prescription charges and medical fees
- travelling expenses
- out of pocket expenses
Call our helpline today on 0800 195 8464 or use our free, no obligation,
online enquiry form to register for a call back or call us directly on 0870
855 1400.