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Hygiene question about living in home when someone is recovering from C diff. I'm wondering if it can return if others in house aren't careful about cleaning after using bathroom and not wiping carefully or washing their hands long enough.

LouisaMae: Research C-difficile online.
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Reply to Llamalover47
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Clean hands. Clean bathroom fixtures (faucet, toilet handle, light switch, doorknob).

If the person with C.diff is an elder with dementia they must be supervised in the bathroom. Someone has to make sure they are cleaned properly and that their hands are washed properly. If they are in diapers and can access their own diaper, that needs to be secured so they can't. There is special clothing that can prevent this, also taping the diaper can. Make sure the person is washed daily and that their hands are washed several times a day. Even if you use baby wipes. Keep a spray bottle of alcohol in the bathroom with a sign to spray the contact surfaces with it in between cleanings.
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Reply to BurntCaregiver
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This is a question for your MD, and you can also learn online about best cleaning solutions. Until then, a dedicated bathroom for the recovering patient is best, and as Lea says, bleach is your friend. Keep a sign in the room that the bathroom may be contaminated with CD and careful handwashing is required. Keep good hand wipes in room as well as a box of latex gloves.
Do know that as an RN who worked regularly with patients with C Diff I have NEVER seen a single patient that did not get C Difficile due to antibiotic use or chemotherapy drugs and autoimmune problems. Not once. A healthy person without those conditions is unlikely to get C Diff. C Diff is alive within every single one of us. It is not the bacteria itself, but its over-proliferation that can literally KILL us.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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Annanell Jan 30, 2025
So Alva, are you saying, if my husband who is constantly on antibiotics, gets CD, I as a healthy person, if I am careful, should be reasonably safe?
Thanks for your CDiff information.
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AI Overview

Is CDiff contagious?


Yes, C. diff (Clostridium difficile) is highly contagious
 and can spread easily from person to person through contact with contaminated surfaces or feces, making good hand hygiene crucial to prevent its transmission; even people without symptoms can still spread the bacteria. 

Key points about C. diff contagion:
Spreads through spores:
C. diff bacteria produce spores which can survive on surfaces for extended periods, allowing for easy transmission. 
Risk factors:
People who have recently taken antibiotics are particularly susceptible to C. diff infection. 
Prevention methods:
Frequent handwashing with soap and water is the best way to prevent C. diff spread. 
Healthcare settings:
C. diff is especially prevalent in healthcare facilities due to the high concentration of vulnerable individuals. 

I suggest the surfaces of the home be cleaned with bleach.
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Reply to lealonnie1
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cover9339 Jan 26, 2025
To add, people who unfortunately get C-Diff can be treated differently by some people, almost as if they have leprosy.
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