A Pleasant Way to Die

Tuberculosis is not the only disease that is facing mutations as the world becomes increasingly more globalized. In North America, clostridium difficile is making headway. Scientists are worried that it will become the next great killer. This superbug has a deadly resistant strain. In fact, “here are certainly dozens, perhaps hundreds of strains of C. difficile, most notably a superbug known as the epidemic strain. This hypervirulent variety has killed thousands of people -- often elderly patients in hospital -- across North America over roughly the past five years, particularly in Quebec. There, C. diff. killed an estimated 2,000 patients in 2003-2004 alone. Typically, the victims have been on antibiotics, which in addition to combatting infection, also wipe out the good bacteria normally found in the gastrointestinal tract. In their absence, C. diff. has no competition and thrives. The connection to recent exposure to antibiotics is so pronounced it is considered a virtual prerequisite for coming down with Clostridium difficile. Until now.”

The are multiple problems with this superbug. One of the most pressing issues is the fact that this bacteria is now spreading outside of hospitals and “into the community-at-large.” It has already reached some communities in Quebec and it could easily spread to many, many more. Another problem is that this superbug has spread to some foods. “The audience of scientific sleuths in Atlanta had heard much of this and more by the time Songer got up to speak. Songer said his lab had screened for the bacterium in meat bought in Arizona grocery stores.(In addition to striking humans, C. diff. also causes disease among commercial farm animals.)The samples included ground beef, pork and turkey, as well as a selection of beef, beef-pork and pork sausages. Incredibly, one-quarter of the samples were tainted with strains of Clostridium difficile. The workshop participants, who had been quietly listening, immediately broke into peals of nervous laughter intermixed with groans of disbelief.” Making matters worse, cooking does not kill it.

I’ve explained what the superbug is and the problems associated with it, but I have not explained how it kills. Let me elaborate. “There are few good ways to die, and lying in a pair of soiled diapers while waiting for the merciful end to arrive certainly isn't one of them. But patients fighting a severe Clostridium difficile infection frequently suffer that indignity, enduring 10 to 20 bowel movements a day. In addition to chronic diarrhea, the epidemic strain can cause a ruthless inflammation of the colon called colitis that sometimes necessitates surgical removal of that part of the large intestine. Sepsis, or blood poisoning, can also occur. Patients endure horrible abdominal pain, perilously low blood pressure and anemia that leaves them too weak to crawl out of bed.” Sounds fun, doesn’t it?