How to Battle C-Diff

Clostridium difficile, or C. diff, is an infectious bacterium that can cause a wide range of symptoms such as prolonged diarrhea or a life-threatening inflammation of the colon. Among those at the highest risk of contracting C. diff are adults over 65, people who have recently taken antibiotics and people with extended hospitalizations. Because the contagious illness most commonly occurs in health care settings such as hospitals and nursing homes, precautions are necessary to prevent its spread. Appropriate treatment is also necessary to control symptoms and facilitate complete recovery from C. diff.

Things You'll Need

• Latex or vinyl gloves
• Disposable gowns
• Hospital disinfectant
• Prescribed medications

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Instructions

• 1

  Use probiotics. Take a twice-daily regimen of probiotics for one week longer than antibiotic treatment, if applicable. This can be effective in preventing diarrhea associated with C. diff and other gastrointestinal symptoms linked to antibiotic use.

• 2

  Wash your hands frequently. Avoid touching surfaces that could be contaminated, especially in bathrooms. Encourage visitors, workers and residents of medical facilities to do the same.

• 3

  Isolate the patient. When a person is diagnosed with C. diff, implement isolation measures by placing him in a private room if possible.

• 4

  Cover up. Practice contact precautions that include wearing gloves and a disposable gown during physical contact with the infected person.

• 5

  Disinfect. Use a hospital disinfectant to clean the environment of a person with C. diff at least twice daily. When possible, use disposable tools such as plastic thermometers. Thoroughly disinfect any equipment that will be reused.

• 6

  Halt current antibiotic treatment. Discontinue the antibiotic responsible for development of C. diff, if applicable. Always consult with a physician before discontinuing an antibiotic in midtreatment.

• 7

  Administer prescribed medications. The usual medication course to abolish the bacteria consists of two different antibiotics -- metronidazole, or Flagyl, and vancomycin -- but this must be determined by the physician.