Clostridium difficile is a germ that causes watery diarrhea. The germ is highly contagious if a person comes in contact with someone or a surface that hasn’t been sanitized. Hospital infections interest me because I work in a hospital and Clostridium difficile, also known as “C-Diff”, affects as many as 500,000 Americans each year.
Clostridium difficile, an inflammation of the colon found in the feces, is usually acquired by the elderly or people with certain medical complications. Those people who contract Clostridium difficile are usually on antibiotics for a long period. Antibiotics tend to flush the body of all bacteria, even the good bacteria that live in the body. Someone who is tested positive in a hospital for Clostridium difficile is placed in isolation to contain the infectious germ. Also once a person contracts C-Diff a physician will prescribe certain antibiotics for ten days to kill off the infectious germ. Gowns and gloves are required for healthcare providers and visitors for the patient to help prevent it from spreading. Following the isolation procedures of gown, gloves and good hand washing techniques help keep the clostridium contained within the hospital room. The Germ, Clostridium difficile, is a spore germ that can live outside the body and can live on surfaces such as bathroom fixtures, tables, and linens. So once the germ has been resolved, it’s best to use alcohol-based cleaners to disinfect the contaminated area.
Clostridium difficile is a highly contagious well-known germ that is often found in hospital settings. It can be prevented by following good hygiene methods and some antibiotics. The infectious germ can be fatal depending on the situation of the person who contracted Clostridium difficile. The symptoms are watery diarrhea, fever, nausea, loss of appetite, and sometimes abdominal pain. Contracting this can be quite uncomfortable and unbearable at times.
http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/organisms/cdiff/Cdiff_excerpt.html
http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/organisms/cdiff/Cdiff-patient.html
http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/organisms/cdiff/Cdiff_clinicians.html
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