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Clostridiodes difficile<\/em>, formerly known as Clostridium difficile<\/em>, is a type of bacteria (germ) that causes diarrhea. C. difficile<\/em> can live naturally in the intestines (gut) of humans and not cause any problem. Sometimes changes in the gut lead the bacteria to produce toxins and then illness can develop.<\/p>\n Who gets C. difficile<\/em>?<\/strong><\/p>\n Individuals at the highest risk for C. difficile<\/em> infection are people, especially older adults, who take antibiotics for a long time. Persons with underlying gastrointestinal conditions or prior gastrointestinal surgery, those with weakened immune systems or other chronic underlying health conditions, and persons who are frequently hospitalized are also at increased risk for C. difficile<\/em> infection.<\/p>\n How is C. difficile<\/em> spread?<\/strong><\/p>\n The bacteria are passed in feces (stool). If feces gets on items or surfaces, such as by unclean hands touching them, then those items or surfaces become contaminated. Someone else can come along and touch a contaminated item or surface, pick up the bacteria, and pass the bacteria along to another person, item, or surface. People get the bacteria into their bodies by putting unclean hands in their mouths or other body sites, such as the eyes. It is important to wash hands often and properly and keep the environment clean; C. difficile<\/em> can remain on items and surfaces for a long time and can be very difficult to remove from the environment.<\/p>\n What are the symptoms of C. difficile<\/em> infection?<\/strong><\/p>\n Many people carry C. difficile<\/em> in their bodies without any symptoms. This is referred to as being \u201ccolonized\u201d. A person can be colonized for a long time and never get sick or get sick much later. The most common symptoms of a C. difficile<\/em> infection include watery diarrhea, fever, loss of appetite, nausea, and belly pain and tenderness.<\/p>\n How soon after exposure do symptoms appear?<\/strong><\/p>\n The exact timeframe is unknown, although it is thought to be less than 7 days.<\/p>\n How is C. difficile<\/em> infection diagnosed?<\/strong><\/p>\n Special laboratory tests of feces (stool) can be used to diagnose C. difficile<\/em> infection.<\/p>\n What is the treatment for C. difficile<\/em> infection?<\/strong><\/p>\n In some patients, stopping antibiotic treatment will help relieve symptoms within two to three days. More powerful and appropriately targeted antibiotics are sometimes prescribed. In severe cases, surgery might be needed to remove the infected part of the intestines.<\/p>\n Transplanting stool from a healthy person to the colon of a patient with repeat C. difficile<\/em> infections has been used as a successful treatment. These \u201cfecal transplants\u201d appear to be the most effective method for helping patients with repeat C. difficile<\/em> infections, but the procedure is relatively new and not widely available.<\/p>\n How can C. difficile<\/em> infection be prevented?<\/strong><\/p>\n Patients with C. difficile<\/em> should follow all instructions given by their healthcare providers and keep their hands clean, especially after using the bathroom. Friends or family members visiting a patient with C. difficile<\/em> should follow the healthcare facility\u2019s recommended precautions. Everyone should be sure to take antibiotics as prescribed and wash hands often, especially after using the bathroom and before eating.<\/p>\n People who work in hospitals and other healthcare settings follow special infection control measures to prevent the spread of these bacteria. Special disinfectants are needed to remove C. difficile<\/em> from items and surfaces. Healthcare providers wear a gown and gloves when caring for patients with C. difficile<\/em> and practice frequent hand hygiene to limit the spread of C. difficile<\/em>.<\/p>\n How can I get more information about C. difficile<\/em>?<\/strong><\/p>\n February\u00a02019<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" What is Clostridiodes difficile (C. difficile or C. diff)? Clostridiodes difficile, formerly known as Clostridium difficile, is a type of bacteria (germ) that causes diarrhea. C. difficile can live naturally in the intestines (gut) of humans and not cause any problem. Sometimes changes in the gut lead the bacteria to produce toxins and then illness […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":46,"featured_media":0,"parent":803,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6127","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\n\n