Clostridioides difficile, or C. diff. is a bacteria that can be found in the intestines of some healthy people without causing any problems. However, it can cause an infection if someone takes antibiotics, because antibiotics can upset the balance of good bacteria in the gut. This allows C. diff. to grow too much and can lead to infection. Some people are more at risk for C. diff. infections, especially those age 65 and older, people who have recently been in the hospital, and those with weak immune systems. When C. diff. grows too much, it can make the intestines swell and cause diarrhea. It can also spread to other people if not handled properly.
UAB Medicine is working hard to make sure patients stay safe and don’t get sick from C. diff. This infection can sometimes happen in hospitals, but there are ways to help stop it. Here’s how UAB Medicine is doing this:
- Testing quickly: We have a special tool that helps doctors and nurses know when to test and treat patients who might have a C. diff infection. This means we can catch it early.
- Keeping patients safe: Patients who have a suspected C. diff infection are put in a special area to keep the bacteria from spreading. There’s a sign on their door to remind everyone how to be safe and stop the germs. Staff wear disposable gowns and gloves, and they wash their hands with soap and water after taking them off.
- Cleaning carefully: We use special cleaning methods to make sure that everything in the room and any equipment is safe and doesn’t have the bacteria on it.
- Using antibiotics appropriately: Medicine helps keep people safe and healthy, but sometimes there are problems that can happen when we use certain medicines called antibiotics. Antibiotics can save lives by stopping infections, but they can also cause issues like C. diff infections and make some germs more resistant to medicine.
To help with this, hospitals have special teams called antibiotic stewardship committees. These teams of health care workers make sure antibiotics are used the right way, so that they help people without causing extra problems. Thanks to these teams, there are fewer cases of C. diff and other infections that can happen in hospitals.
By doing these things, UAB Medicine is helping to protect patients from getting C. diff infections while in the hospital.