- You are caring for a patient with c-diff as part of your workload assignment. Discuss what c-diff is and how it is transmitted (how you can get it)?
- What actions will you take as a nurse to protect yourself and the other patients on the unit when taking care of your patient?
Clostridium difficile, often referred to as C. diff, is a type of bacterium that can cause infection in the colon and lead to a range of symptoms from mild diarrhea to severe inflammation of the colon (colitis). C. diff infection is commonly associated with healthcare settings, such as hospitals and long-term care facilities, but it can also occur outside of healthcare settings.
Transmission of C. diff:
- Contact with contaminated surfaces: C. diff spores can survive for extended periods on surfaces, such as bedrails, doorknobs, and medical equipment. If a person touches these contaminated surfaces and then touches their mouth or face, they can ingest the spores and become infected.
- Person-to-person spread: C. diff can be transmitted from person to person through the fecal-oral route. This can happen when a person with C. diff contaminates their hands after using the restroom and then touches objects or other people.
- Antibiotics: C. diff is commonly associated with antibiotic use. When a person takes antibiotics to treat an infection, the normal gut flora can be disrupted, allowing C. diff to flourish and cause infection.
- Contaminated food and water: In rare cases, C. diff can be transmitted through the consumption of contaminated food or water.
As a nurse caring for a patient with C. diff, the following actions should be taken to protect yourself and other patients on the unit:
- Adhere to Standard Precautions: Strictly follow infection control guidelines, including proper hand hygiene with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer before and after patient contact, and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves and gowns.
- Dedicated Equipment: Use dedicated patient care equipment (e.g., blood pressure cuffs, stethoscopes) for the C. diff patient to minimize the risk of cross-contamination.
- Isolation Precautions: Place the patient with C. diff in a private room if possible. If a private room is not available, cohort patients with C. diff together to prevent transmission to others.
- Educate Patients and Visitors: Inform patients and visitors about the importance of hand hygiene and other infection prevention measures, especially when entering or leaving the patient’s room.
- Environmental Cleaning: Ensure thorough cleaning and disinfection of patient care areas and surfaces, paying particular attention to high-touch surfaces. Use appropriate disinfectants effective against C. diff spores.
- Antibiotic Stewardship: Work with the healthcare team to ensure judicious use of antibiotics, avoiding unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions whenever possible.
- Monitor for Symptoms: Be vigilant for any signs and symptoms of C. diff infection in both patients and healthcare workers. Early detection can help prevent further transmission.
- Report Infections: Report any suspected or confirmed cases of C. diff infection to the infection control team promptly to implement appropriate control measures.
By taking these precautions, nurses can help reduce the risk of C. diff transmission and protect both themselves and other patients from infection.