{"id":6213,"date":"2019-03-04T22:08:45","date_gmt":"2019-03-05T03:08:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/epidemiology\/?page_id=6213"},"modified":"2025-08-06T19:31:37","modified_gmt":"2025-08-06T23:31:37","slug":"clostridioides-difficile","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/epidemiology\/epidemiology\/epidemiology-fact-sheets\/clostridioides-difficile\/","title":{"rendered":"Clostridioides difficile"},"content":{"rendered":"
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What is Clostridioides difficile<\/em>?<\/h2>\n

Clostridioides difficile <\/em>(also known as C. difficile<\/em> or C. diff<\/em>) is a type of bacteria (germ) that causes diarrhea and colitis. Colitis is an inflammation of the colon.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> <\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Who gets C. difficile<\/em>?<\/h2>\n

C. difficile <\/span><\/span><\/em>infection <\/span>usually occurs when someone is taking antibiotics for<\/span> something else or not long after they have finished. <\/span>Other risk factors include <\/span>older age (65+), <\/span>previous<\/span> <\/span>C. difficile <\/span><\/span><\/em>infection, <\/span>having a weakened immune system<\/span>, and recent <\/span>stay at a hospital or nursing home.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

How is C. difficile<\/em> spread?<\/h2>\n

C. difficile <\/span><\/span><\/em>is found in stool<\/span> and can live on people\u2019s skin<\/span>. <\/span>People who touch an infected person can pick up the germs on their hands. If they <\/span>don\u2019t<\/span> wash their hands<\/span>, they can spread the <\/span>germs to<\/span> other<\/span> people and things they touch<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What are the symptoms of C. difficile<\/em> infection?<\/h2>\n

The most common symptoms of a <\/span><\/span>C. difficile<\/span><\/span><\/em> infection are diarrhea, fever, loss of appetite, nausea, and stomach pain or tenderness. Sometimes people <\/span>carry <\/span><\/span>C. difficile<\/span><\/span><\/em> in their bodies <\/span>without any symptoms. This is <\/span>called <\/span>being \u201ccolonized.\u201d\u00a0 A person can be colonized <\/span>with <\/span><\/span>C. difficile <\/span><\/span><\/em>for a long time and never get sick or get sick much later.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

How soon after exposure do symptoms appear?<\/h2>\n

The exact <\/span>timeframe<\/span> is unknown<\/span>. <\/span>It <\/span>can range from a few days to up to three months after exposure<\/span>. <\/span><\/p>\n

How is C. difficile<\/em> infection diagnosed?<\/h2>\n

A <\/span>laboratory test<\/span> of <\/span>a <\/span>stool<\/span> sample <\/span>can be used to diagnose <\/span><\/span>C. difficile<\/span><\/span><\/em> infection.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What is the treatment for C. difficile<\/em> infection?<\/h2>\n

C. difficile <\/span><\/i>treatment usually involves taking a specific antibiotic for at least 10 days. If you were taking an antibiotic for another infection, your healthcare provider might ask you to stop taking it if it\u2019s safe to do so.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

People with repeat <\/span>C. difficile <\/span><\/i>infections may receive a \u201cfecal transplant\u201d. This involves giving stool from a healthy person to the person with <\/span>C. difficile<\/span><\/i>. In severe cases, surgery might be needed to remove the infected part of the intestines.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How can C. difficile<\/em> infection be prevented?<\/h2>\n

You should always take antibiotics as prescribed. Wash your hands after using the bathroom and before you eat. If you\u2019ve had a <\/span>C. difficile <\/span><\/i>infection, tell any healthcare professionals about it. This will help them make the best decisions when prescribing antibiotics in the future.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In healthcare settings, healthcare personnel wear a gown and gloves with caring for patients with <\/span>C. difficile<\/span><\/i>. This helps prevent the spread of <\/span>C. difficile <\/span><\/i>to themselves or to other patients. Special cleaning products are used to remove <\/span>C. difficile <\/span><\/i>from items and surfaces. Healthcare personnel practice frequent hand hygiene to limit the spread of <\/span>C. difficile<\/span><\/i>. Friends or family members visiting a patient with <\/span>C. difficile <\/span><\/i>should follow the healthcare facility\u2019s recommended precautions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At home, i<\/span>f you or one of your household members <\/span>has <\/span><\/span>C. difficile<\/span><\/span><\/em>:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n