Newton, Mass. – Publisher i30 Media has released the second edition of C. Diff In 30 Minutes: A guide to Clostridium difficile for patients and families (ISBN: 978-1-64188-078-7) by author, doctor, and Harvard Medical School Professor J. Thomas Lamont, M.D. The C. diff book uses plain-English explanations and case studies to describe this unpleasant bacterial infection and modern disease management options, including new FDA-approved treatments.
Clostridium difficile is one of the most common hospital-acquired infections in the United States. The C. diff superbug is a bacteria like E coli, and infects hundreds of thousands of people every year in the United States. This infection is particularly severe in older individuals who are hospitalized with other serious medical conditions such as diabetes, cancer, heart failure, kidney disease, and prior organ transplants and are treated with antibiotics which are a major risk factor for C diff.
One of the world’s top experts on C. diff, Lamont has conducted ground-breaking research on the bacterium and has helped thousands of patients struggling with C. diff symptoms. He notes that much has changed in recent years, including the introduction of more effective treatments.
Watch J. Thomas Lamont, M.D. (of @harvardmed & @BIDMChealth and author of C. Diff In 30 Minutes) Grand Rounds presentation on Major Advances in #Gastroenterology & #Hepatology from 1965 to 2002. https://t.co/d1haAfEfvx #cdiff
— IN 30 MINUTES Guides & Cheat Sheets (@in30minutes) June 29, 2022
“Since I wrote the first edition of the book nearly a decade ago, a number of important discoveries have improved our management of C. diff,” Lamont said, pointing to several new C. diff treatments approved by the FDA. “An antibiotic called Dificid or fidaxomicin is now widely available by prescription and is being used as an effective treatment for C. difficile. Another advance is the development of a monoclonal antibody called Zinplava which is administered intravenously to patients with acute or recurrent C. difficile.”
C. Diff In 30 Minutes also discusses an evolving treatment known as fecal microbial transplant (FMT), also known as stool transfers. The process has been streamlined and no longer requires a family member to donate stool, Lamont says.
Other topics covered in the book include:
- The origins of C. diff
- C. diff symptoms
- Four C. diff cases, from infection to recovery
- Antibiotics that can lead to C. diff infections
- C. diff management, including antibiotics
- How to limit the spread of C. diff
- Recurring C. diff
- A glossary of medical terms
C. Diff In 30 Minutes is not a DIY guide. A doctor is needed to diagnose C. diff and help patients manage the infection. However, this book can help patients and family members understand what their doctors, gastroenterologists, or infectious disease specialists are recommending and why.
More information about C. Diff In 30 Minutes as well as online ordering options can be found on the companion website, cdiff.in30minutes.com. The paperback retail price is $14.99 while the ebook edition is available on the Amazon Kindle and other devices for $9.99.
About the author
J. Thomas Lamont, M.D. received his medical degree in 1965 from the University of Rochester, and was intern, resident and chief resident in medicine at UCLA. Following a GI Fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital, he joined the faculty of Harvard Medical School in 1974. He currently is Emeritus Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.
About In 30 Minutes guides
i30 Media is the publisher of In 30 Minutes guides – “Quick guides for a complex world.” Thousands of readers turn to In 30 Minutes guides to understand mildly complex topics, ranging from genealogy to software. The tone is friendly and easy to understand, with step-by-step instructions and lots of examples. Top-selling titles include Google Drive & Docs In 30 Minutes, Twitter In 30 Minutes, and LinkedIn In 30 Minutes. For more information about the series, visit in30minutes.com
PUBLISHER CONTACT: info@in30minutes.com, +1 (617) 213-0811