Phoenix Magazine Publishes Article on Gastroenterologist in Mesa's C-Diff Procedure

GILBERT, AZ, April 24, 2013 (Press-News.org) In the news recently, Dr. Andrew Weinberg, gastroenterologist in Mesa, has performed a special procedure to treat clostridium difficile infections on patients refractory to standard therapies. Last December, Dr. Weinberg who had treated Ellen Christensen's clostridium difficile infection with Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (Stool Transplant), was featured on CBS channel 5 News in Phoenix. Dr. Weinberg has also been featured regarding this treatment in Phoenix Magazine for the month of April.

To expand on the use of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation, Dr. Weinberg, Mesa gastroenterologist, utilized this procedure on Carol Giorsetti. According to Phoenix Magazine, Carol Giorsetti didn't mind being Exhibit A for a new medical procedure. She stated, "I'm glad, in fact. I probably would have died if I didn't have it."

Dr. Weinberg and Banner Baywood Infectious Diseases specialist, Dr. Joe Zachariah, developed the current stool transplant program at Banner Baywood Medical Center to combat a deadly infection called Clostridium difficile, or C-Diff. According to Dr. Weinberg, C-Diff is a very serious issue with an estimated 300,000 cases reported each year. Of those 300,000 cases, 14,000 people die from C-Diff a year. The elderly or the very young are at risk for severe infections from C-Diff although anyone can become infected.

Carol Giorsetti previously took antibiotics for strep throat, which is when her symptoms of C-Diff began (i.e. diarrhea in Mesa). Three to eight percent of people carry C-Diff in their bowels, where toxicity is held in check by the 1,200 other bacterial species. In certain cases, antibiotics can wipe out nearly all of the good, healthy bacteria in the stomach.

Dr. Weinberg, Mesa, AZ gastroenterologist, will typically use standard medicines to treat the C-Diff if they have not been tried before, but if the case is advanced or the colon is already too compromised for the specific antibiotics to work, then there is surgery or stool transplant as other options.

"I understand this is not an ideal procedure, but it does provide the best results." Once patients get past the idea of what is to be done, they appreciate the results. "The stool donor is usually a relative or friend, which can often make patients feel more at ease," said Dr. Weinberg, gastroenterologist in Mesa, AZ.

After completing her procedure, Carol Giorsetti stated that she would "recommend this procedure to anyone in my situation, but I wouldn't go heavy on the details."

With the inclusion of this treatment in the Phoenix Magazine in April, Dr. Andrew Weinberg hopes to raise further awareness for C-Diff and the availability of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (stool transplant in Mesa).

About Weinberg Gastrointestinal: Dr. Andrew Weinberg opened Weinberg Gastrointestinal in January of 2012, emphasizing complete compassionate care. At Weinberg Gastrointestinal, Dr. Weinberg's priority is to deliver quality care to informed patients in a comfortable setting for abdominal pain, colonoscopy and heartburn in Mesa, among others. Dr. Weinberg received his D.O. from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his Internal Medicine Residency at Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood, PA. He also completed his Gastroenterology Fellowship at University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ.

Media Contact:
Dr. Andrew Weinberg
contactus@weinberggi.com
4915 E. Baseline Road, Suite 126
Gilbert, AZ 85234
(480) 745-3690
http://www.weinberggi.com