Researchers looked at several studies and found a link between opioid use and C. diff infection. In the combined data, about 31% of patients who were taking opioids developed C. diff, compared with 17% of patients not using opioids.
C. diff causes severe diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Opioids may raise risk because they can weaken the immune system and change the balance of bacteria in the gut.
The researchers say doctors should decide on opioids case by case. Healthy young people may have lower risk, but hospitalized or immunocompromised patients are at higher risk.
Difficult words
- opioid — a strong pain medicine, often addictiveopioid use, opioids
- infection — when germs enter and cause illness in body
- develop — to start to have or show a conditiondeveloped
- diarrhea — frequent, loose, watery bowel movements
- immune system — part of the body that fights infections
- immunocompromised — have a weaker than normal immune system
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Would you talk with a doctor about C. diff risk before using opioids? Why or why not?
- What should doctors think about when they decide to give opioids to a patient?
- How might care be different for hospitalized or immunocompromised patients?
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