Can I catch C. difficile?
You cannot catch C. difficile like you can a cold or the flu which can be easily transmitted from an infected person through coughing or sneezing. C. difficile is actually a common bacterium that some of us carry around in our bowels with very little risk to our health. When some individuals become infected with C. difficile it may cause C. difficile associated disease (CDAD). When someone has CDAD, the bacteria in the stool can contaminate frequently-touched surfaces such as toilets, handles, or bedpans. When touching these items our hands can become contaminated. If we then touch our mouth without washing our hands, we ingest the bacteria and may become infected. Our soiled hands can also spread the bacteria to other surfaces. If you always wash your hands and practice good hand hygiene, you can greatly reduce your chances of picking up any bacteria – not just C. difficile. If I’m sick, should I avoid going to a hospital that has CDAD? The number of cases of CDAD in a hospital does n
