- Introduction
- What is C. diff (Clostridium difficile)?
- Contagious
- Is C. diff (Clostridium difficile) contagious?
- Transmission
- How does C. diff spread?
- Symptoms
- How do I know if I have an infection caused by C. diff?
- Prognosis
- How will I know if I am no longer contagious for C. diff?
- Complications
- When should I seek medical care for C. diff?
What is C. diff (Clostridium difficile)?
Bacterial infection.
Clostridium difficile or C. diff is a bacterium. Microscopically it is referred to as gram-positive and rod-shaped. It exists best in a low-oxygen environment. It was first described in 1935 and is considered one of the most common causes of infections in the colon. Clostridium difficile is also referred to as C. diff and C. difficile.
Is C. diff (Clostridium difficile) contagious?
Yes, C. diff is contagious. Microorganisms can be spread from person to person by touch or by direct contact with contaminated objects and surfaces (for example, clothing, cell phones, and door handles). Some individuals are carriers of this bacterium but have no symptoms of infection. However, these people who are still infected with the bacteria can spread the infection to others.
In general, the bacteria have to increase in number rapidly to cause disease, so the bacteria can be transferred to people, but not cause significant infection immediately. The disease occurs when conditions favor the growth of these organisms. Conditions that favor growth include:
- Weakened immune systems
- Elderly
- Especially individuals who are hospitalized, and are being treated with antibiotics that suppress the normal bowel flora
Avoiding direct and indirect physical contact with contaminated areas reduces the likelihood of contagion.
How contagious is C. diff to a healthy person?
C. diff can be found in uninfected people. However, people taking antibiotics are at risk of becoming infected with this bacterium as antibiotics disrupt the normal bowel bacteria and allow C. diff to grow rapidly (proliferate).
The growth of C. diff in the colon leads to inflammation of the colon (colitis, specifically pseudomembranous colitis). Adults aged 65 years and older are at higher risk of becoming infected.
How does C. diff spread?
As described above, Clostridium difficile can be spread from person to person by direct contact and indirect contact with contaminated objects (clothing, eating utensils, and tabletops, for example). C. diff spreads easily in hospitals because often the highest concentrations of these bacteria are in hospitalized patients treated with antibiotics. Strict hand washing techniques and patient isolation methods can reduce C. diff spread in hospitals and other areas.
How do I know if I have an infection caused by C. diff?
Although the incubation period for Clostridium difficile is not precisely known, researchers suggest that the incubation period is about seven days if the conditions are favorable for bacterial proliferation. However, a person may acquire C. diff and develop no infection symptoms but be colonized for extended periods (years) until conditions develop that favor C. diff proliferation.
Symptoms of C. diff infection can be mild such as watery diarrhea three or more times a day with mild abdominal pain or tenderness or maybe more severe with diarrheal episodes reaching 15 times a day with severe abdominal pain, blood or pus in the stool, fever, weight loss and loss of appetite.
In most instances, the confirmatory diagnosis is made by detecting a cytotoxin produced by C. diff in the patient's stool sample.
How will I know if I am no longer contagious for C. diff?
People infected with C. diff who become ill usually are treated with special antibiotics (metronidazole (Flagyl), vancomycin (Vancocin), rifaximin (Xifaxan), and/or fidaxomicin) for about 10 to 14 days. Severe infections may require intravenous antibiotics and even surgery.
A person with C. diff becomes less contagious as the symptoms decrease, and little or no toxin is detected in their stools. However, since the person previously infected is still capable of relapsing and/or becoming a carrier for Clostridium difficile, it is difficult to say if they are no longer contagious. However, the person is less likely to transfer C. difficile to others when their symptoms resolve after treatment.
When should I seek medical care for C. diff?
If you or someone you know develops mild to moderate watery diarrhea, cramping abdominal pain, anorexia, fatigue, and fever, especially after taking antibiotics, seek medical care.
If you or someone you know is dehydrated, has a fever, decreased bowel sounds, and/or abdominal rigidity, and possible perforation of the colon with a very tender abdomen, you or they should seek immediate emergency medical care. Hospitalized patients on antibiotics are monitored for signs and symptoms of C. diff infection including diarrhea and abdominal pain.
Health News
- Cyberbullying Common in the World of Online Gaming
- Could Blood Pressure Meds Help Prevent Adult Epilepsy?
- Colombian Family's Genes Could Hold Key to Delaying Alzheimer's
- Certain Prostate Meds Might Help Prevent Dementia
- 1 in 4 U.S. Yards May Have Unsafe Levels of Lead
- More Health News »
Medically Reviewed on 9/28/2022
References
Aberrra, F.N. "Clostridium difficile Colitis." Medscape. Updated: Apr. 6, 2017. <http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/186458-overview>.
United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Clostridium difficile Infection. <http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/organisms/cdiff/Cdiff_infect.html>.
Top Is C diff Clostridium difficile Contagious Related Articles
- Abdominal PainAbdominal pain can have many causes that range from mild to severe. Some of these causes include bloating, gas, colitis, endometriosis, food poisoning, GERD, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), ovarian cysts, abdominal adhesions, diverticulitis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, gallbladder disease, liver disease, and cancers.Signs and symptoms of the more serious causes includedehydration,bloody or black tarry stools, severeabdominal pain,pain with no urination orpainful urination.Treatment forabdominal pain depends upon the cause.
- FeverAlthough a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 F (37 C), in practice, a person is usually not considered to have a significant fever until the temperature is above 100.4 F (38 C). Fever is part of the body's own disease-fighting arsenal; rising body temperatures apparently are capable of killing off many disease-producing organisms.
- Antibiotic ResistanceAntibiotics are medications used to kill or slow the growth of bacteria and some fungi. The definition of antibiotic resistance is the ability of bacteria to change (mutate) and grow in the presence of a drug (an antibiotic) that would normally slow its growth or kill it.
- Bacterial Infections 101Get more information on bacterial skin infections, which bacteria cause food poisoning, sexually transmitted bacteria, and more. Explore the most common bacterial infections.
- Blood in the StoolBlood in the stool or rectal bleeding (hematochezia) refers to the passage of bright red blood from the anus. Common causes include anal fissures, hemorrhoids, diverticulitis, colitis, Crohn's disease, colon and rectum polyps, and cancer. The color of the blood in the stool may provide information about the origin of the bleeding. The color of stool with blood in it may range from black, red, maroon, green yellow, gray, or white, and may be tarry, or sticky. Treatment of blood in the stool depends on the cause.
- ColitisColitis refers to inflammation of the inner lining of the colon. Symptoms of the inflammation of the colon lining include diarrhea, pain, and blood in the stool. There are several causes of colitis, including infection, ischemia of the colon, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, infectious colitis like C. difficile, or microscopic colitis). Treatment depends on the cause of the colitis.
- Illustrations of ColonThe long, coiled, tubelike organ that removes water from digested food. See a picture of the Colon and learn more about the health topic.
- Crohn's DiseaseCrohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease, primarily involving the small and large intestines, but it can affect other parts of the digestive system as well. Abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and weight loss are common symptoms and signs.
- DiarrheaDiarrhea is a change in the frequency and looseness of bowel movements. Symptoms associated with diarrhea are cramping, abdominal pain, and the sensation of rectal urgency. Causes of diarrhea include viral, bacterial, or parasite infection, gastroenteritis, food poisoning, and drugs. Absorbents and anti-motility medications are used to treat diarrhea.
- Is Colitis Contagious?Colitis is a term that us used to describe inflammation of the colon. The terms enteritis, proctitis, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) now include colitis. Colitis has many different causes. Some types of colitis are contagious and some are not contagious. Symptoms and signs of colitis include diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, cramping, pain, and blood in the stools. Treatment for colitis depends on the cause and type of colitis.
- PeritonitisPeritonitis is a bacterial infection inside the abdomen. Some doctors choose to group the causes of peritonitis into five categories; 1) primary peritonitis, 2) secondary peritonitis, 3) tertiary peritonitis, 4) chemical (sterile) peritonitis, and 5) peritoneal abscess. Others do not categorize peritonitis, they use a term to describe the disease in front or behind the word peritonitis. Symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Treatment is generally with antibiotics.
- Stool Color ChangesStool color changes can very from green, red, maroon, yellow, white, or black. Causes of changes of stool color can range from foods a person eats, medication, diseases or conditions, pregnancy, cancer, or tumors. Stool can also have texture changes such as greasy or floating stools. Stool that has a uncharacteristically foul odor may be caused by infections such as giardiasis or medical conditions.
- The Digestion ProcessDigestion is the complex process of turning the food you eat into the energy you need to survive. The digestive process also involves creating waste to be eliminated and is made of a series of muscles that coordinate the movement of food. Learn more about digestion and the body parts that make it possible, including the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, rectum, anus, pancreas, liver, and gallbladder.
- Ulcerative ColitisUlcerative colitis is a chronic inflammation of the colon. Symptoms and signs include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding. Ulcerative colitis is closely related to Crohn's disease, and together they are referred to as inflammatory bowel disease. Treatment depends upon the type of ulcerative colitis diagnosed.
