Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Clostridium difficile infection prevention
Introduction
Overview
Overview
There are no vaccines available for the prevention of C. difficile infection. Individuals in healthcare settings may reduce the risk of C. difficile infection by washing hands using soap and water (alcohol-based products are not effective), minimizing unnecessary use of antibiotic administration, and properly isolating infected patients with adequate post-discharge room disinfection.
Prevention
Prevention
There are no vaccines available for the prevention of C. difficile infection.[1] The following prevention strategies have demonstrated significant reduction in the rate of C. difficile infections[1]:
- Use soap and water for hand wash in healthcare settings (alcohol-based products are not effective)
- Minimize unnecessary antiobitic administration among hospitalized patients
- Isolate hospitalized patients diagnosed with C. difficile infection
- Disinfect hospital rooms post-discharge
- Consider using probiotics to prevent C. difficile colonization (controversial with mixed results but may be helpful)
References
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Leffler DA, Lamont JT (2015). “Clostridium difficile infection”. N Engl J Med. 372 (16): 1539–48. doi:10.1056/NEJMra1403772. PMID 25875259.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Yazan Daaboul, M.D.