When Janice Stepp took antibiotics for an infection, she never imagined the treatment would lead to a year of illness, hospitalizations and repeated procedures.
“I took the medication as directed and felt fine. Two days after I finished it, I started having a lot of diarrhea. I got tested, and it came back positive for C. diff,” Janice recalled.
In March 2025, Janice was diagnosed with Clostridioides difficile, commonly known as C. diff, a bacterial infection that can cause severe diarrhea and inflammation of the colon.
Nicholas Goodhope, M.D., PharmD, an Infectious Disease Physician at Monument Health Rapid City Hospital, explained that antibiotics can disrupt the healthy bacteria in the digestive system, allowing C. diff to multiply.
“Antibiotics kill the other bacteria, but not the C. diff. Without that competition, C. diff can overgrow and cause diarrhea,” Dr. Goodhope said.
For Janice, treating the infection proved difficult. Initial antibiotic treatments were unsuccessful, and although she responded better to another medication, the infection repeatedly returned.
Over the following year, Janice endured three hospitalizations and three fecal transplants, treatments intended to restore healthy bacteria in the digestive system. She also received microbiota-based treatments.
Despite these efforts, the infection continued to return.
“I thought I’d take the 10-day course, be fine, and move on. It didn’t work like that,” Janice said.
The illness affected nearly every aspect of her daily life.
“It was a year of just being sick. I had fevers, slept 18 hours a day, and couldn’t go to work. It was horrible,” she shared.
After multiple setbacks, a later live microbiotic treatment at Mayo Clinic finally brought relief.
Unlike antibiotics, which kill or stop the growth of bacteria, live microbiota treatments work to restore healthy bacteria in the gut, helping prevent infections from returning.
After this treatment, Janice reported feeling better than she had even before developing C. diff, and she has not required additional treatment since.
Her experience also changed how she approaches antibiotics.
“I looked back and realized I’d had six courses of antibiotics in the year leading up to it. I think that last one just put me over the edge,” she said.
During Antibiotic Awareness Week, Janice’s story highlights why responsible antibiotic use matters.
According to CDC guidelines, antibiotics treat bacterial infections, not viruses, and unnecessary use can increase the risk of serious side effects, including C. diff.
Patients can help reduce these risks by asking questions, taking antibiotics as prescribed, and discussing the appropriate treatment and duration with their health care team.
Today, Janice works closely with her providers when considering antibiotics.
“I won’t take anything unless I reach out to Dr. Goodhope. I don’t want to go down that road again.”
Janice’s story serves as a reminder to us that antibiotic awareness is more than preventing resistance.
It’s also about protecting patients from complications that can change their lives.
Story and photos by Zada Jones