C. diff (Clostridioides difficile) Infection

Prevention

What can be done to prevent Clostridioides difficile infection?

To prevent Clostridioides difficile infection, hospitals and nursing homes take the following precautions:

• Ask the patient to clean their hands after using the bathroom.
• Make sure all healthcare providers clean their hands before and after caring for every patient.
• Use a disinfectant to clean rooms and equipment.
• Give patients antibiotics only when necessary.
• Alert any facility to which a Clostridioides difficile patient may be transferred.

When caring for patients with Clostridioides difficile hospitals and nursing homes will:

• Place patients with Clostridioides difficile infection in a private room whenever possible.
• Place the patient in Contact Precautions, also known as isolation. Healthcare providers wear gloves and a gown over their clothing when entering the room and wash their hands with soap and water when leaving the room.
• Have patients with Clostridioides difficile infection remain in their room unless they need to leave for medically necessary treatments or therapies.
• Ask visitors, or anyone entering the room, to clean their hands when they come in and before they leave the room.

Hospitals and nursing homes may also ask the patient’s visitors to:

• Wear gloves and a gown especially if they are helping to provide care.
• Not eat or drink in the patient’s room.
• Not use the patient’s bathroom.

What do I do after returning home from the hospital?

You can return to your normal routine once you are back at home. The diarrhea is often better or gone before you go home, which makes the spread of Clostridioides difficile to others much less likely.

You can lower the chances of developing Clostridioides difficile infection again or spreading it to others. For example:

• Take your medication to treat Clostridioides difficile exactly as instructed by your healthcare provider and pharmacist. Take all the medication as directed. Do not take half-doses or stop before you have taken all the medicine.
• You and your family members should wash their hands after going to the bathroom, before preparing or eating food, and when hands are dirty.
• Clean surfaces in bathrooms and kitchens regularly with household detergents/disinfectants.
• Tell your healthcare provider if your diarrhea returns.