clostridium difficile (or c. diff ) is a bacterium that lives naturally in the human gut. however usually when people refer to " c. diff " they're referring to c. diff colitis which is an infectious diarrhea caused when c. diff bacteria grow unchecked. the most common cause of c. diff colitis is disruption of the normal balance of bacteria in the gut due to taking antibiotics. it's important to understand c. diff is highly contagious. it spreads through direct contact. so if a person has c. diff diarrhea and soils the bedding which then touches the nightstand as you're taking the sheets off the bed you can pick up the c. diff bacteria from the nightstand and become infected yourself. c. diff colitis is a nasty condition. it's painful and annoying (all those bathroom trips). beyond the annoyance it can cause life-threatening dehydration in children and the elderly. any time a person gets diarrhea that persists after finishing a course of antibiotics they should consult their medical provider to determine if they have a case of c. diff. c. diff usually is treated with one or more courses of oral antibiotics. other therapies may include fluids (to avoid dehydration) and probiotic supplements to help restore the balance of flora in the gut. if you suspect you or a loved one has c. diff colitis it's imperative you avoid spreading it. you must use alcohol-based hand rub every time you go to the bathroom or have contact with a person who has c. diff. washing your hands with soap and water will not kill this bacterium. wear medical gloves when dealing with soiled linen -- and also use hand rub. you also need to wash bedding towels and even clothing in hot water preferably with chlorine bleach. i sincerely hope neither you nor a loved one ever has to experience a c. diff infection. wishing you well!
what do you do for c diff?