Clostridium difficile (C difficile)

What is C. difficile?

Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) (say: SEE diff-iss-SEEL) is a type of bacteria (germ). It is found in a person's bowels (guts). C. difficile makes a toxin that can cause diarrhea. It can also cause more serious conditions such as colitis.

Most often, C. difficile infection happens in people who are taking antibiotics. Healthy people have many different types of bacteria in their bowels. Most of these are "good" bacteria that help control other, harmful bacteria. Taking antibiotics can kill some of the good bacteria. When there are fewer of these good bacteria in the bowels, C. difficile can grow.

Symptoms of C. difficile infection

People who have a C. difficile infection may have the following symptoms:

• watery diarrhea, which may also have blood in it
• fever
• not feeling hungry
• feeling sick to the stomach (nausea)
• pain or tenderness in the belly

Healthy people usually do not get C. difficile infections. People are more likely to get C. difficile infections if either of the following is true:

• They have other illnesses or conditions that mean they need to take antibiotics for a long time.
• They are elderly.

How C. difficile is spread

C. difficile bacteria are found in stool. A person can become infected if they touch items or surfaces that have a small amount of stool on them and then touch their mouth. Even if a surface does not look dirty, it can still have bacteria on it.

Health care workers can spread the bacteria to other patients or surfaces if they do not wash their hands or clean equipment after caring for a patient with C. difficile.

Your child will need to give a stool sample to see if they have C. difficile

A stool (feces or poo) sample is needed to test for C. difficile. Your child's nurse will send it to the lab. The results usually take a few days to come back.

Usually, C. difficile gets better on its own

People with mild symptoms do not need treatment for C. difficile. The symptoms usually clear up once the person stops taking antibiotics.

If the person's symptoms are more serious, they may need medicine. Some people may become dehydrated. This means their bodies do not have enough water to work properly. They may need to take fluids directly into their blood through an intravenous line (IV).

Handwashing is the best way to stop the spread of C. difficile

Washing your hands often is one of the best defences against C. difficile. Use soap and water to wash your hands if you think you or your child could have C. difficile. If there is no soap and water around, use alcohol hand rubs. Then wash with soap and water when you can.

If your child has C. difficile in the hospital

C. difficile can be dangerous for patients who are in the hospital with other illnesses. If your child has a C. difficile infection, both you and the staff who are treating your child can help stop C. difficile from spreading.

• Your child may be placed in a single room. They will not be able to visit the playroom until they are feeling better. Ask the Child Life Specialist to bring toys and supplies to your room.
• All staff caring for your child in the hospital should wear gloves and a gown.
• Wash your hands with soap and water before going into your child's room, before and after you touch your child, and before you leave your child's room. Hospital staff should wash their hands as well.
• Because you are not going to be touching other patients, you do not need to wear gloves or a gown.

If you or anyone else who has visited becomes ill with symptoms of C. difficile infection, let your child's doctor or nurse know.

If you have any questions or concerns, ask your child's doctor or nurse.