Clostridium Difficile Training for Environmental Cleaning Staff

>> YOUR LINK HERE: ___ http://youtube.com/watch?v=rT-Sm9fLdH4

Great Book on C. Diff: https://amzn.to/2s04bjT • A basic definition of Clostridium Difficile for Nurses • C –diff is a bacteria that causes inflammation of the colon which is called colitis. Toxins produced by c-diff attack the intestinal lining. • Those at high risk for C-diff are: • • Elderly patients usually over the age of 65. • • Those patients with recent hospitalizations • • Patients with recent antibiotic • C-diff usually occurs as a 3-step process: • 1. First step is destruction of the normal flora (the current antibiotic may have killed good bacteria along with bad bacteria) • 2. Ingests C-Diff bacteria (primarily acquired nosocomially as the spores can be abundant in the hospital environment) • 3. Developments of C-diff disease – Usually around 7 day incubation. • Signs and symptoms: • • Abdominal cramping and pain • • Watery stool ( 10-15 per day) • • Dehydration • • Fever • • Renal failure • • Pus or blood in stool • Tests: • • Stool cultures (can take several days to grow) • • Colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy • Treatments: • • Try to stop current antibiotic that triggered the illness if possible • • Start new antibiotic to combat C-Diff bacteria (usually flagyl or vanco) • • Surgery to remove part of colon affected • • Probiotics – helps restore healthy organisms such as bacteria and yeast to help restore the healthy balance of the intestine. May also deter further C.diff infections. • This bacteria can live on surface for a long period of time. It is found in feces. People become infected when they touch contaminated surfaces (hands, phones, tables, etc.) then touch their mouth. • Prevention: • Hand washing • Contact precautions • Clean equipment and room with chlorine bleach (bleach kills the spores) • Learn more about this and other nursing topics at www.Nursestudy.net • Facebook: / nursestudynet

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