Clostridioides difficile (C. diff)

C. diff shed in feces and can live outside the human body for a very long time. C. diff may be found on things in the environment such as bed linens, bed rails, bathroom fixtures, and medical equipment. C. diff infection can spread from person to person on contaminated equipment. It can also spread from the hands of doctors, nurses, other healthcare providers, and visitors.

The most common symptoms of a C. diff infection usually include watery diarrhea, fever, loss of appetite, nausea, and belly pain and tenderness. An individual can also be colonized with C. diff and have no symptoms.

The risk for C. diff infections increases in patients with antibiotic exposure, proton pump inhibitors, gastrointestinal surgery/manipulation, a long length of stay in healthcare settings, a serious underlying illness, immunocompromising conditions, and advanced age. There are many preventive measures you can put in place early on to help lessen your chance of getting C. diff. Be sure to clean your hands often, especially after using the bathroom and before eating.

In a healthcare setting, you can prevent C. diff by:

• Making sure that all doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers clean their hands with soap and water.

• Asking providers to clean their hands if you do not see them do so.

• Finishing all prescribed antibiotics. Take them as listed in the instructions. If you do not understand the instructions, ask your pharmacist. Do not share or save antibiotics. Do not stop taking the antibiotics even if you feel better. Finish all the prescribed antibiotics.

If a person has Clostridioides difficile infection, they won't be excluded from school. But if a child has diarrhea and attends daycare or school, they should stay home until the diarrhea stops for 24 hours without using diarrhea-suppressing medications.

In 2013, the Texas legislature funded C. difficile prevention activities. The goal is to improve identification in the laboratory, the use of antibiotics, and ways to prevent infection.

Individual cases of Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) are not a reportable condition in Texas. Report outbreaks to your local health department.

• Clostridioides (C.diff) | CDC
• Prevent the Spread of C. diff | CDC