Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) in Illinois

In 2010, there were 16,262 hospital discharges with a C. difficile diagnosis code out of a total of approximately 1.7 million discharges, or about 9.9 C. difficile cases per 1,000 discharges.

Download the summary report:

• Clostridium difficile in Illinois Hospitals, 2010 (pdf)

What is Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) and how can it be prevented?

Clostridium difficile, also referred to as C. difficile, is a common cause of bacterial diarrhea in hospitalized patients. C. difficile-associated diarrhea ranges from mild to severe and can sometimes result in severe inflammation of the intestines. The C. difficile organism can be found in feces, and is transferred from infected patients or contaminated environmental surfaces to patients via the hands of hospital personnel. Patients also can become infected if they touch objects or surfaces that are contaminated with C. difficile and then touch their mouth. Although a person may have the organism in their intestines, it does not usually cause disease until antibiotics alter normal intestinal flora, promoting overgrowth with C. difficile. The incidence of this disease is increasing in Illinois.

Prevention

Several health provider strategies can be employed to reduce risk of this infection:

1. Proper hand hygiene (hand washing), preferably with soap and water.
2. Hospitalized patients with C. difficile should be placed in a private room.
3. Infected patients should be placed on contact precautions. Protective gloves and gowns should be used while in an infected patient’s room.
4. Ensure adequate cleaning and disinfection of equipment and the environment surrounding patients with this infection. The best disinfection is a solution of bleach and water, mixed at one part bleach for every 10 parts water.

What can you do as a patient? 

1. Make sure that your health care providers clean their hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub before and after caring for you.  If you do not see them clean their hands, ask them to please do so.
2. Only take antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor.  Taking unnecessary antibiotics can increase your risk for developing a C. difficile infection.
3. Be sure to clean your own hands often, especially after using the bathroom and before eating.
4. Visitors to your room should wash their hands with soap and water or an alcohol- based hand rub upon entering and exiting your room.
5. Visitors to your room may need to wear protective gowns and gloves.
6. You should ask your health care providers for information about how to prevent C. difficile when you go home.
7. Below are some recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
   • If you are given a prescription to treat C. difficile, take the medicine exactly as prescribed by your doctor and pharmacist. Do not take half-doses or stop before you run out.
   • Wash your hands often, especially after going to the bathroom and before preparing food.
   • People who live with you should wash their hands often as well.
   • If you develop more diarrhea after you get home, tell your doctor immediately. 
   • Your doctor may give you additional instructions

For more information visit: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/id_CdiffFAQ_general.html