Is C Diff contagious?
Is C Diff contagious? It is not a ‘fast spreading’ infection in normal circumstances but it is very contagious. C Diff can be carried by many people without it making them ill. It is then activated when the bacteria that has been holding it back within the intestine are killed or inhibited by antibiotic treatment for another illness.
Like several other infectious agents such as e.coli it will often arrive in the intestine via the fecal/oral route. The hand picks up the bacteria from a surface that has minute amounts of fecal contamination. As a result of the everyday actions of the hand the bacteria finds it’s way into the mouth via touch, food etc.
Family and friends of a C Diff sufferer can protect themselves by hand washing. However diligent hospitals or carers are there is likely to be some surface contamination around a c diff patient. The popular wisdom is that the most effective protection occurs when c diff is removed near the end of its journey to a new victim. Hand hygiene is vital.
What is C Diff?
What are the symptoms of C Diff?
How is C Diff treated?
How is C Diff diagnosed?
How does C Difficile make you ill?
Why do some people have recurring C Diff infection?
How can C diff be prevented?
What is the C Diff ‘fecal transplant’ therapy?
Is C Difficile contagious??
What is C Difficile colitis?
What are C Difficile toxins?
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
My daughter got very sick with diarea 5 to 9 times a day after she got a colonostopy. Could something have happened during that prosedure? She was in the hospital since Friday and they released her today and said she has colitis and possibly cdiff. The results aren’t back yet from 3 cdiff tests. My gutt feeling is that something went wrong during her colonostopy. Happy to hear back from you
I LOST A WONDERFUL YOUNG FRIEND OF 54 YRS OLD. SHE WAS RECENTLY BATTLING BREAST CANCER AND HER DOCTORS WERE PROUD OF HER MEDICAL PROGRESS. SHE HAD CONTRACTED THE C DIFF INFECTION ONE TIME DURING CHEMOTHEAPY TREATMENTS.
SHE ONLY HAD TWO MORE CHEMO THERAPIES LEFT AND PROGRESSING WELL, AGAIN CONTRACTING C DIFF FOR THE SECOND TIME AT THE HOSPITAL. SHE PASSED AWAY ON FEB. 7 2012. I HOPE TO GOD THAT THERE WILL SOON BE A MEDICAL DISCOVERY TO COMBAT OR MORE SO PREVENT C DIFF.
Need help with disinfecting & prevention at home & art studio as an 89 yr old relative is moving in soon. I have C.Diff; been acutely ill 6 wks; diagnosed today; RX 1500mg Metronidazole per day. I can’t pinpoint when initial contracted as I have IBS. Is is possible I could have had it over 15 months without realizing it. I have a dog; could she have brought the spore into the house from anywhere & despite cleaning hands – transferred it to me without her getting sick? Now, major ? & need specific remedy: Prevent Spreading via Items in my house I cannot use bleach on – such as ceramic clay & bisque which is sold to outsiders – want to prevent spreading & repeat infection; HOW DO I CLEAN EVERY SURFACE, WITH WHAT, TO KILL EVERY LAST SPORE IN MY HOME, GARAGE, CAR, CERAMIC BUSINESS & DOG THINGS, “THE DOG”; hoards of stuff I’ve separated into piles @ Home sold to people already; items I need to ship this week to multiple folks, items for good will; garage sales plus all the old papers I have been touching/going thru to reduce 20 yrs of store items & clutter in my home.
what do you use to kill spores on hard surfaces & surfaces like papers, bedding, plaster, food containers, electronics, pourous items etc……..
I am a nurse who recently was taken care of a pt with C-diff. They have a peg tube that was difficult to flush. When I tried to unstop the tube, the water splashed back and got in my eyes. What is the risk for me? The pt had already been on Vancomycin and Zosin for 7 days.