Healthcare providers are finding that Clostridium difficile (C. diff) outbreaks in their hospitals are becoming more common, more severe, and more expensive to control. This bacteria can live in the intestinal tract without causing disease, but when the conditions are right, it proliferates and causes severe diarrhea with symptoms such as watery stool, abdominal pain, cramping, nausea, and vomiting. Patients with C. difficile infections can quickly become dehydrated and require hospitalization if they don’t respond to antibiotics within days of the onset of symptoms.

Wash your hands before touching anyone

Washing your hands is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of C. diff, as well as other diseases and infections. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating or touching someone else.

You can also help prevent the spread of C. diff by:

1. -Covering your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough
2. -Avoiding sharing personal items like towels or toothbrushes
3. -Wiping down surfaces that may be contaminated

-Staying home if you are sick

Wear gloves when handling anything contaminated with feces

1. diff is a bacterium that can cause severe diarrhea and abdominal cramps. The main way it spreads is through contact with contaminated feces. This means that it’s important to wear gloves when handling anything that may be contaminated with feces, such as bedpans, toilet seats, or linens. You should also wash your hands thoroughly after contact with any of these items.

Use disposable equipment as much as possible

One way to prevent the spread of C. diff is to use disposable equipment as much as possible. This means using things like disposable gloves, gowns, and masks when interacting with patients. It also means using dedicated equipment for each patient, and thoroughly cleaning any non-disposable equipment between uses. By taking these precautions, you can help stop the spread of C. diff in and out of the hospital.

Wear protective clothing including gowns, masks, and eyewear

Wearing protective clothing is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of C. diff. This includes gowns, masks, and eyewear. Gowns should be worn when entering a patient’s room and masks should be worn when caring for a patient with C. diff. Eyewear should be worn when performing any procedures that could potentially splash or aerosols contaminated body fluids.