C. diff Infection

What is a C. diff infection?

A C. diff infection is caused by Clostridioides difficile, a type of bacteria often found in the digestive tract. You may also see it called Clostridium difficile or C. difficile.

C. diff spreads when people touch objects or surfaces contaminated with the bacteria or from coming in contact with the poop or contaminated hands of someone who has C. diff.

Most people do not get sick from C. diff unless they take antibiotics or have recently taken antibiotics. Other factors that increase the risk for C. diff infection include a recent stay at a hospital or nursing home, history of a previous C. diff infection, having a weakened immune system, and being an older adult.

Most C. diff infections are mild and go away with treatment. But in some cases, C. diff can cause serious health problems, which can be life-threatening.

Symptoms of C. diff infection

The most common signs and symptoms of C. diff are:

• Diarrhea: 3 or more loose or watery stools (poops) a day for 2 or more days
• Mild belly pain

More severe symptoms include:

• Belly pain, cramping, or tenderness
• Weakness
• Dehydration
• Fever
• Nausea or vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Blood or pus in the stool

In some cases, people may carry C. diff in their gut without any symptoms. This is called colonization and can make it easier to spread the germ to others.

Risk factors for C. diff infection

A C. diff infection is caused by a common type of germ (bacteria) in the digestive tract. Too much C. diff can lead to an infection.

Risk factors for C. diff infection include:

• Current or recent antibiotic use
• Having a weakened immune system
• Previous C. diff infection
• Recent hospital stay
• Age 65 or older

Diagnosis of C. diff infection

Your health care provider will do a physical exam and ask about symptoms and antibiotic use.  

To diagnose a C. diff infection, your health care provider will collect a sample of stool (poop). The sample will be sent to a lab to test for C. diff.

Treatment of C. diff infection

Most C. diff infections are mild and go away with treatment. It is important to treat C. diff infection so that it doesn’t spread to others and to prevent more serious health problems. When C. diff grows, it can make toxins that attack the intestine wall. This can cause intestinal damage and more severe infection.

Ways to manage C. diff infection include:

Stopping or changing antibiotic medications

If your child is taking an antibiotic, your care team may have them stop taking the antibiotic, if possible. The care team may also prescribe another type of antibiotic. Antibiotics that may be used to treat C. diff infection include oral vancomycin, metronidazole, and fidaxomicin.

Supportive care

To help manage symptoms, your child should rest, drink fluids to prevent dehydration, and take medicines as prescribed. Let your care team know if symptoms do not improve or get worse.

If your child’s symptoms are severe, they may need to stay in the hospital. Your child may get IV fluids for dehydration.

If your child has C. diff infection in the hospital, they will be placed on contact isolation precautions. This means:

• Staff and visitors must wear gloves and gowns in your child’s hospital room.
• Everyone must wash their hands with soap and water before entering and after leaving the room.
• Your child will need to stay in their room.
• Hospital staff will clean your child’s room using a bleach-based disinfectant to kill C. diff.
• These isolation precautions will continue for 2 days or longer after symptoms fully go away.

Fecal microbiota transplant

Some people may need a procedure called a fecal microbiota transplant (FMT). This is done to restore healthy bacteria in the intestine to fight C. diff. Your child may have an FMT for recurrent C. diff infection or if the infection does not respond to other treatments.

Surgery

In severe cases, surgery may be needed to remove the part of the digestive tract that is damaged.

How to prevent C. diff infection

There are steps you can take to help prevent the spread of C.diff:

Questions to ask your care team

• What is my child’s risk for C. diff infection?
• What symptoms of C. diff should I watch for?
• What steps should we take at home to prevent the spread of C. diff?
• How long does a C. diff infection last?
• How do we keep the infection from coming back?

Find more information on C. diff infections

Related content