Clostridium Difficile C. Diff Infection and Prevention

Great Book on C. Diff: https://amzn.to/2s04bjT A basic definition of Clostridium Difficile for Nurses C –diff is a bacteria that causes inflammation of the colon which is called colitis. Toxins produced by c-diff attack the intestinal lining. Those at high risk for C-diff are: • Elderly patients usually over the age of 65. • Those patients with recent hospitalizations • Patients with recent antibiotic C-diff usually occurs as a 3-step process: 1. First step is destruction of the normal flora (the current antibiotic may have killed good bacteria along with bad bacteria) 2. Ingests C-Diff bacteria (primarily acquired nosocomially as the spores can be abundant in the hospital environment) 3. Developments of C-diff disease – Usually around 7 day incubation. Signs and symptoms: • Abdominal cramping and pain • Watery stool ( 10-15 per day) • Dehydration • Fever • Renal failure • Pus or blood in stool Tests: