C diff test result - what does this mean?

[CreatingHavoc]

I recently had to have 2 lots of antibiotics and have had a rough week or so with fevers, abdominal pain, nausea, loose stools with mucus and weird facial flushes. Gp ordered some stool tests and the c diff one has just come back as negative, thankfully! But I was wondering what the first bit means where it says 'yes but sta'. Does it mean there are c diff bacteria present but not to infection levels? Is there anything I can do about this? Antibiotics always ruin me, I wonder if this has something to do with it.

I mean 'yes but NOT sta'. 🤦🏻

I've actually just compared it to an old result from a few years ago and it looks like it might the field where they state if antibiotics are being used. It says 'nitrofurantoin' in that bit on the old result. I suppose I'll have to check with gp.

I'm not sure that we can work that out. You might need to phone them up.

Sorry you're having a hard time. I like your phrase "antibiotics ruin me". They did that to me a couple of years ago and it was just grim. I did get sorted out in the end but needed antifungals, and a saline drip.

I hope you have an easier ride and it all calms down soon for you.

It could be that you are positive for c diff bacteria in your digestive tract but negative for c diff toxins ie. even though there are bacteria present they are probably not producing enough toxins to cause your symptoms, hence need to look for other causes. If you have c diff bacteria present and have been through 2 courses of antibiotics ,it’s going to be important to try and introduce good bacteria and improve your gut biome asap.

@CreatingHavoc sorry it’s an old leaflet copy! https://www.ecch.org/media/ltjjgyk3/ipcgdhcdiffleaflet.pdf

@ItsVeryComplicated they really are awful sometimes. I can cope with the odd one but most of them are like poison. Which I guess they are really, in a sense.

@PoopooMcgrew yeah, I've got probiotics to start this evening so hopefully things will improve soon. Thinks it's best I get in touch with the gp to see if they know what it means. It does look like the text has been cut off.

these may be helpful @CreatingHavoc

https://www.nth.nhs.uk/resources/clostridioides-difficile-pcr-positive-carrier/

www.cdc.gov/c-diff/about/index.html#

It could mean not Staphylococcal.

If it had ‘nitrofurantoin’ in it before maybe the question on the request form was ‘has the patient recently had antibiotics’ and the text that has been cut off could be the answer ‘yes but not stated’ if a box was ticked but the name of the antibiotic not added…?

Whatever it is supposed to say, the good news is that as the PCR is negative you don’t have c diff (hurrah)

@Christmacrumble I think this is likely as it said 'multiple antibiotics' on the form with the sample. I hope it is anyway as I'd be much happier with that option!

I guess the important thing is that at the top your doctor has marked it as ‘Normal - no action’ which is good news for the result

Not so great if you are still feeling rubbish…

how are you feeling? Did the probiotics help?

They might have marked it as “ normal, no action” but the lab advice is “ Review and stop unnecessary antibiotics and PPI's Consider other causes of diarrhoea
including infectious ones “and is not a no action advice. If C diff bacteria are present but non toxin producing they can become toxin producing as all the good bacteria have been wiped out , if advice on restoring the gut biome isn’t given.

I checked with gp, the 'yes but not sta' is not referring to cdiff, it's referring to something on the form, so most likely the antibiotics.

I've only just taken the probiotics this morning as I fell asleep before I was meant to take them last night as I've hardly slept all week. I still have loose stools this morning but I've barely eaten for a week now and my stomach is still quite painful. It's particularly annoying as I was misdiagnosed with a kidney infection last Wednesday and given cefalexin that I didn't need, which has made the whole thing worse. I'm starting to feel a bit better in myself if I'm just sat in bed but I'm still exhausted and very weak. Have to wait until 20th for more bloods (had some in hosp that were fine), wait till I'm off my period to do FIT test but have done calprotectin test as well so hopefully the results of that will be back soon. It's such a mess.