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The Correlation Between Clostridium difficile (C. diff) and Dog Bites

Every year, there are approximately 4.5 million Americans bitten by dogs, with roughly 800,000 emergency room visits, according to the CDC. Our Houston dog bite lawyers have evaluated and/or handled roughly 40-50 of these cases each year over the past 30 years. During that time, we have seen cases of bite victims developing C. diff bacterial infections about once every 3-4 years. The effects of C. diff can range from unpleasant symptoms to life-threatening if not treated properly. Thus, it is important to know what the correlation is between C. diff and dog bites and what can be done about it.

dog biteCan You Get C. diff From a Dog Bite?

The results of scientific studies are inconclusive as to whether the bacteria C. diff can be passed directly from a dog to a human through their saliva as the result of a dog bite. However, a person may develop a C. diff infection indirectly from the dog bite due to the use of antibiotics to treat the bite if they already have the bacteria in their intestines.

What is C. diff?

C. diff a/k/a Clostridium difficile is a type of bacteria that is found in soil, air, and water. It produces resilient spores that, when inhaled or ingested, can find their way to the intestines of many animals including both humans and dogs. 1-3% of the population is estimated to have it in their system. In most instances, it lies dormant and is of little concern.

C. diff and Antibiotics

Antibiotics are commonly used to kill bacteria to prevent wounds from becoming infected. Dog bites are considered to have a high risk of infection. Thus, emergency medicine doctors often prescribe antibiotics following a dog bite. However, not all bacteria are bad.

Your intestines have many types of bacteria. The good bacteria prevent the bad bacteria from thriving and taking over. Unfortunately, antibiotics tend to be nondiscriminatory—that means they kill the good bacteria too. C. diff, unfortunately, is resistant to modern antibiotic treatment. So, when antibiotics kill off the good bacteria, C. diff can reproduce itself. The toxins it produces may now start to cause problems that were previously prevented by the good bacteria’s presence.

What Are the Symptoms of C. diff?

The symptoms of C. diff include:

  • Mild to severe diarrhea
  • Blood in the stool
  • Fever
  • Stomach pain
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Accelerated heartbeat
  • Loss of appetite

These symptoms may vary from very mild to severe. It can even be life-threatening in some cases. Out of roughly 500,000 cases a year, C. diff is considered the direct cause of death in about 15,000. However, C. diff is common in nursing homes and hospitals wholly unrelated to dog bites which may contribute to morbidity.

How Do Doctors Treat C. diff?

Treatment of C. diff typically requires a regiment of antibiotics known to treat C. diff such as vancomycin or fidaxomicin. Treatment typically lasts at least 10 days. Once you have experienced C. diff, there is a risk of reinfection. Fecal microbiota transplants may be one of the treatment options for people with continual reinfections. Taking probiotics is not considered a good treatment option. C. diff symptoms are sometimes mistaken for the Flu or a stomach bug that does not seem to go away. If you suspect you may be experiencing symptoms of C. diff, you should seek medical care.

Is the Dog Owner Liable for C. diff?

Holding a dog owner (or, more specifically, the owner’s insurance company) liable when you suffer from C. diff following a dog bite can present a challenge for even the best personal injury attorneys. Modern science cannot establish a direct transmittal from dogs to humans to show a direct causal connection. Medical experts will typically opine that the C. diff was likely a preexisting condition that was simply asymptomatic until the antibiotics allowed it to flourish. However, because the antibiotic treatment was necessary for the dog bite and, thus, was a reasonable course of medical care, the victim may ask the jury to award damages for the aggravation of a preexisting condition. Your lawyer will need to allege aggravation of the preexisting condition in his petition and will likely require expert testimony to help the jury understand it.

Talk to a Dog Bite Attorney

Insurance companies will deny and defend claims to save themselves money. They know that many claimants and some of their attorneys are simply unfamiliar with C. diff and how it develops. Thus, it is not uncommon for them to deny that they are responsible for the C. diff after a dog bite. If you are bitten by a dog, talk to a dog bite attorney to learn what damages you have a right to pursue and what evidence and testimony will be required to prove those damages. Simmons and Fletcher, P.C., has been helping victims of dog attacks since 1979.

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