| Most patients acquire C.diff during a hospital stay or a | | | | 3. C.diff spreads mainly from the hands of caregivers |
| previous hospital stay and research shows that the | | | | and can be spread from bedrails, bedside tables, |
| longer patients stay in the hospital, the more likely | | | | toilets, sinks, stethoscopes, thermometers, |
| they are to contract the disease. C.diff has more | | | | telephones, and remote controls. |
| than doubled since the mid-1990's and currently | | | | HOW TO PREVENT C.diff |
| outnumbers the annual total of MRSA | | | | Enlist the help of a family member or good friend to |
| (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) cases in | | | | act as your advocate, your watchdog, to prompt |
| the U.S. C.diff is no longer just found in the elderly or | | | | medical professionals in a polite manner to follow |
| seriously ill. The number of C.diff infections among | | | | these guidelines. |
| children has nearly doubled in recent years. | | | | |
| SYMPTOMS OF C.diff | | | | 1. Use an alcohol based sanitizer on your hands. |
| -Diarrhea several times a day for two or more days | | | | 2. Wash your hands thoroughly for 20 seconds in |
| -Abdominal cramping and tenderness | | | | warm, soapy water. |
| Severe cases | | | | 3. When you are hospitalized, ask for a private room. |
| -Severe abdominal cramping and pain | | | | This cuts down on the number of medical |
| -Severe diarrhea | | | | professionals and visitors who enter your hospital |
| -Fever | | | | room and who can spread the disease. |
| -Blood in stool | | | | 4. In a polite manner, ask your primary nurse if your |
| -Nausea | | | | hospital room's surfaces can be cleaned with |
| -Loss of Appetite | | | | hospital-grade disinfectant or chlorine bleach. |
| See your doctor if symptoms last more than three | | | | 5. Avoid the unnecessary use of antibiotics. |
| days or if you have a fever, severe cramping, or | | | | 6. Ask your doctor to swab his or her stethoscope |
| blood in your stool. | | | | with an alcohol based wipe. Ask yourself where this |
| WHERE YOU CAN CONTRACT C.diff | | | | stethoscope might have been before touching you. |
| | | | Ask anyone who comes in contact with you to wash |
| 1. Hospitals and nursing homes | | | | their hands and to put on a fresh pair of disposable |
| 2. Health care settings | | | | gloves. |