Clostridium difficile [klo-STRID-ee-um dif-uh-SEEL] is a bacterium that causes diarrhea and more serious intestinal conditions such as colitis.

Over the past 2 years, several states have reported increased rates of C. difficile-associated disease, noting more severe disease and an associated increase in mortality. It is not clear at this time if the population at risk (those most susceptible to acquiring C. difficile-associated disease) is changing. See similar questions...

They are diseases that result from C. difficile infections such as Colitis, more serious instestinal conditions, sepsis, and rarely death. See similar questions...

Clostridium bacteria are rod-shaped spore-forming bacteria that live under anaerobic conditions. Clostridium difficile was first discovered in 1935 and first associated with disease in 1978. C. difficile is an opportunistic pathogen which causes Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD). Common environmental reservoirs include soil, water, hay, and sand. From a healthcare standpoint, the most common reservoir is within the intestines of infected individuals or carriers. See similar questions...

C. difficile is generally treated for 10 days with antibiotics prescribed by your healthcare provider. The drugs are effective and appear to have few side-effects. See similar questions...

People in good health usually don’t get C. difficile disease. People who have other illnesses or conditions requiring prolonged use of antibiotics and the elderly are at greater risk of acquiring this disease. The bacteria are found in the feces. People can become infected if they touch items or surfaces that are contaminated with feces and then touch their mouth or mucous membranes. Healthcare workers can spread the bacteria to other patients or contaminate surfaces through hand contact. See similar questions...

The increase in incidence and severity of Clostridium difficile associated disease has been documented in US and UK surveillance systems. Nosocomial transmission in Canada has increased from 2.1 cases per 1000 admissions in 2002 to 10 per 1000 in 2003. It is estimated that nosocomial transmission can increase to 18 cases per 1000 in 2004. See similar questions...

Sometimes after a person has been given an antibiotic for another infection, the C. difficile will over grow and produce enough toxin to cause illness. Symptoms of C. difficile associated disease (CDAD) can include: diarrhea or loose stools, fever, abdominal pain and abdominal cramps. In some cases diarrhea may be mild, and the patient will improve without the need for treatment. However, it can sometimes be a more serious illness. See similar questions...

C. difficile is spread by contact with the hands. Caregivers can unknowingly spread the germ during routine procedures between patients. C. difficile can also be spread through contaminated surfaces, objects, or equipment such as: bedrails, thermometers, toilet seats, wheelchairs, and commodes. C.difficile is shed in feces. Any surfaces, patient equipment, and personal items that become contaminated can become sources of infection. See similar questions...

C. difficile is shed in feces. Any surface, device, or material (e.g., commodes, bathing tubs, and electronic rectal thermometers) that becomes contaminated with feces may serve as a reservoir for the C. difficile spores. C. difficile spores are transferred to patients mainly via the hands of healthcare personnel who have touched a contaminated surface or item. See similar questions...

It is very important for all staff and visitors to wash their hands when they enter and leave the patient room. Visitors and hospital staff coming into the patient room will need to wear gloves and yellow gowns to prevent them from picking up C. difficile and spreading it to other patients or the environment. Patients must wash their hands before they go to another part of the hospital for tests or treatments. See similar questions...

Yes. Visitors mush wash their hands when they enter and leave the patient room. They must also put on yellow gowns and gloves when they enter the room. If any visitors are experiencing diarrhea, they should not visit the patient until they are better. Infection Control should also be notified of this immediately. See similar questions...

C. difficile can be treated with special antibiotics. Patients will get better. Occasionally, the diarrhea can come back. If this happens, patients will need to be treated again. See similar questions...

Place these patients in private rooms.If private rooms are not available, these patients can be placed in rooms (cohorted) with other patients with C. difficile-associated disease. If your institution experiences an outbreak, consider using only soap and water for hand hygiene when caring for patients with C. difficile-associated disease; alcohol-based hand rubs may not be as effective against spore-forming bacteria. See similar questions...

This is a bacterium that can hide under fillings. It is so common that it has to be assumed to be under every filling. Controlling it might be possible. Eliminating it is impossible. Once any bacterium enters the body it will always be there waiting for an opportunity to multiply. See similar questions...

Stool culture for C. difficile: This is the most sensitive test available, but the one most often associated with false-positive results due to presence of non-toxigenic strains. Stool cultures for C. difficile also are labor intensive and require the appropriate culture environment to grow anaerobic microorganisms. Results are available within 48-96 hours of the test. Antigen detection for C. difficile: These are rapid tests (<1 hr) that detect the presence of C. See similar questions...

Surfaces should be kept clean, and body substance spills should be managed promptly as outlined in CDC’s “Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities.” Hospital cleaning products can be used for routine cleaning. Hypochlorite-based disinfectants have been used with some success for environmental surface disinfection in those patient-care areas where surveillance and epidemiology indicate ongoing transmission of C. difficile. See similar questions...

C# is a new language designed by Microsoft to work with the .NET framework. In their "Introduction to C#" whitepaper, Microsoft describe C# as follows: C# is a simple, modern, object oriented, and type-safe programming language derived from C and C++. C# (pronounced "C sharp") is firmly planted in the C and C++ family tree of languages, and will immediately be familiar to C and C++ programmers. C# aims to combine the high productivity of Visual Basic and the raw power of C++. See similar questions...