C. diff (also known as Clostridioides difficile or C. difficile) is a germ (bacterium) that causes diarrhea and colitis (an inflammation of the colon).
- It’s estimated to cause almost half a million infections in the United States each year.
- About 1 in 6 patients who get C. diff will get it again in the subsequent 2-8 weeks.
- One in 11 people over age 65 diagnosed with a healthcare-associated C. diff infection die within one month.
Risk Factors for C. diff
C. diff can affect anyone. Most cases of C. diff occur when you’ve been taking antibiotics or not long after you’ve finished taking antibiotics.
There are other risk factors:
- Being 65 or older
- Recent stay at a hospital or nursing home
- A weakened immune system, such as people with HIV/AIDS, cancer, or organ transplant patients taking immunosuppressive drugs
- Previous infection with C. diff or known exposure to the germs
Symptoms of C. diff
Symptoms might develop within a few days after you begin taking antibiotics.
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Stomach tenderness or pain
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
Is C. diff contagious?
Yes. To keep from spreading C. diff to others:
Wash hands with soap and water every time you use the bathroom and always before you eat.
Try to use a separate bathroom if you have diarrhea.
Take showers and wash with soap.
Preventing C. diff:
- Practice proper hand hygiene
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water
- Use Meditizer Hand Sanitizer in addition to hand washing.
PLEASE NOTE
The CDC state on their Fact Sheet (cdc.gov/cdif) that Hand Sanitizers DO NOT KILL C. DIFF
That is absolutely correct. Traditional Hand Sanitizers DO NOT KILL C.DIFF.