C. diff infection prevention.

Step One: Wash your hands. C. diff spores can live for days on all types of surfaces. So
after a visit to any public place -- especially a hospital -- wash your hands thoroughly.

Step Two: Avoid regular use of these three types of drugs have been shown to increase C.
diff infection risk:
* Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
* H2 receptor antagonists (such as Zantac and Pepcid) to treat heartburn
* Proton pump inhibitor drugs (such as Prevacid and Prilosec) to treat heartburn

Step Three: Use a probiotic supplement whenever you're prescribed an antibiotic.

Antibiotics kill both good and bad bacteria. And low levels of good bacteria provide a perfect
environment for C. diff to thrive. This is where a good probiotic supplement can help
enormously.

I asked Dr. Spreen if he recommends starting probiotics at the beginning of every antibiotic
treatment, and he said, "Yes, absolutely."

He added that he would continue probiotic use for a full week after the antibiotic is finished.
This isn't overkill -- it's insurance.

Dr. Spreen: "C. difficile colitis is really becoming common, and it's so sad. The disease is
totally iatrogenic while also preventable with probiotic use. I ran into a lady just recently
who had an infected catheter, who lost 25 pounds (didn't have it to lose) from C. diff colitis,
and they never even told her the massive antibiotics they gave her could do such a thing.
She was one miserable cookie."

And by the way, in case you don't know the meaning of "iatrogenic," it refers to any medical
condition that develops as a result of a medical treatment -- in this case antibiotics.

Come to think of it, what prescription drug ISN'T potentially iatrogenic?