When you use the term “colon infection,” you can actually be referring to several different types of colon problems or conditions.

When used by medical professionals however, these words usually refer to an infection caused by the Clostridium difficile bacteria (also called C. difficile or just C. diff).

Most C. diff colon infections are experienced by older adults who are in a hospital or living in a nursing home or other long term care facility. This is often the result of antibiotics they take to fight other health problems.

Antibiotics kill many kinds of bacteria - not just a certain type that are causing an illness. So, sometimes they kill bacteria that live in our intestines and help us digest our food. C. diff bacteria can become established in your intestines if there are not enough helpful kinds of bacteria present. Once C. diff gets established, it causes an infection by producing a toxic substance that attacks the lining of the cells and intestines. The resulting inflammation causes abdominal pain and discomfort.

If your colon infection is fairly mild, it will probably go away when you stop taking the antibiotic. However, if your infection is more serious, your doctor may need to prescribe a different kind of antibiotic to kill the C. diff.

Colon infections are more likely to occur when you’re taking one of several kinds of antiobiotics. These are fluoroquinolones, cephalosporins, clindamycin and penicillin.

It’s not hard to find C. diff bacteria in the natural environment. It’s abundant in water and dirt. It can also be found on plants. It is especially plentiful in human and animal feces, and since it can float easily on air, it spreads quickly where sanitation is poor.

The two best protection techniques for avoiding C. difficile germs are these: wash your hands a lot and keep surfaces in your environment clean. This is because C diff bacteria produce spores that can spread throughout a room and live for weeks or even months. When you touch a surface that has C diff germs on it, and then touch your mouth, they can work their way down your digestive tract and start a colon infection.

Just have Clostridium difficile in your system doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to be sick. But those who have C. diff, even if they’re healthy, can spread the germs to other people.

In the course of the last few years, many more cases of colon infections caused by C. diff have been reported than in previous years. Medical researchers report that a new type of C. diff strain, which is more aggressive than preceding types, has developed and is spreading. This strain resists previous medications, and there have been several serious outbreaks as a result in the last decade.

Symptoms of a C. diff colon infection may not appear for weeks or even months after the germs are introduced to your intestines. When colon infection symptoms do appear, they may include those detailed below.

Tenderness and discomfort in the abdomen, and possibly stomach cramps.
* Watery diarrhea that continues for more than two days, with at least ten trips to the bathroom daily.
* Colitis, which is a type of severe stomach inflammation.
* There might also be blood or pus in the stool, possibly including pieces of raw tissue..
* Nausea accompanied by fever.
* A loss of weight resulting from a lack of appetite..
* Signs of dehydration

If these symptoms persist for several days, call your physician.

Once you’ve been diagnosed with a C. difficile colon infection, your physician will probably discontinue prescribing the antibiotic that brought on your problem. Symptoms will probably improve, but further treatment for your infection of the colon may be necessary.

Fortunately, antibiotics are available that will kill C. diff without harming beneficial bacteria in your digestive tract. Two such drugs are prescribed most often: metronidazole and vancomycin. Both have some side effects, including a bitter aftertaste and nausea. It’s especially important not to drink alcoholic beverages when taking metronidazole.

You can also take certain probiotic supplements that have been shown to bring the digestive tract back to health. There’s a type of yeast - Saccharomyces boulardii - which can also be effective when combined with certain other medications.

Surgery is not usually performed, but may be done in severe cases.

Treatment is not always effective, and the infection may reoccur. An infection in the colon will sometimes come back because all the C. diff germs were not removed during the initial treatment. It can also return if the individual has come in contact with a new strain.

Click on infection of the colon and colitis to learn more about the human colon. Neal Kennedy is a retired radio and television reporter with a special interest in health and fitness topics.