Any C-Diff experts out there? Transmission concern...

A recent houseguest told me she had C-Diff back in late October and was treated with Vancomycin for it. Her llmd will not allow her to go back on abx.

I am freaked out that she could still be contagious in some way? Spores on clothing, shoes etc..? I don't think she knows the severity and contagiousness of it.

Am I being insanely paranoid I hope? Just can't fathom having had this bug brought into my home. Its a rough one and it sounds quite difficult to eradicate from ones environment.

Post Edited (sunny40) : 1/7/2017 6:55:46 PM (GMT-7)

I found several articles to answer your concerns by googling "C-Diff contagious?"

You aren't being heartless. It's a pretty serious bacteria.

Fortunately the symptoms are identifiable and Flagyl seems to be the recommended way to deal with an infection.

Okay so getting the impression that our guest could still be contagious, carrying the illness despite her treatment for it in October?

Oh my... as if I'm not enough of a compulsive hand washer and cleaner/disinfector to begin with. Thank you for your replies All!

Denikeef, I am so sorry to hear about your sister! I hope her infected port and the c-diff are turned around quickly.

I am glad to hear her doctor discussed being careful with her and also didn't say anything about being contagious and able to infect people two months out. ;)

Thank you for so much for your reply! Its alarming reading about these things and obviously when you work so hard to feel good, any potential threats to health are concerning.

You are worried about somebody being contagious after they were diagnosed/treated way back in October?

Perhaps I'm the minority, but I honestly would not worry about that. I'd be more worried about using public restrooms personally than this. LOL

Sadly, I know people who have had c-diff. After Kid#3 was hospitalized the second (or was it the third?) time, he had c-diff, albeit a really, really, really mild case. Honestly, I'm not a bleach fan, and I didn't even use bleach in my house to disinfect. And guess what? Nobody caught it.
Also, I know somebody who had it (and didn't know it) and hosted for holidays (in a really small house), and nobody caught it either.

Now, I'm not making light of this because I do acknowledge that c-diff can be very serious and contagious. However, if you clean up and wash your hands properly, I just wouldn't be concerned. Worrying does nobody good. If you get it, then worry, but conquer it!

I'd be more concerned of somebody having c-diff and not making it to the bathroom in time (it can cause some pretty severe diarrhea). More common with probably kids or people with mobility issues.

It can be a very serious for sure - especially in the elderly.

However, in all honesty, I would not fret about this at all based on your description.

Thanks 1000 daisies for your reply. It definitely helps to read this and puts me at a little more ease.

julymorning said...

1000Daisies said...
You are worried about somebody being contagious after they were diagnosed/treated way back in October?

Perhaps I'm the minority, but I honestly would not worry about that. I'd be more worried about using public restrooms personally than this. LOL

Sadly, I know people who have had c-diff. After Kid#3 was hospitalized the second (or was it the third?) time, he had c-diff, albeit a really, really, really mild case. Honestly, I'm not a bleach fan, and I didn't even use bleach in my house to disinfect. And guess what? Nobody caught it.
Also, I know somebody who had it (and didn't know it) and hosted for holidays (in a really small house), and nobody caught it either.

Now, I'm not making light of this because I do acknowledge that c-diff can be very serious and contagious. However, if you clean up and wash your hands properly, I just wouldn't be concerned. Worrying does nobody good. If you get it, then worry, but conquer it!

I'd be more concerned of somebody having c-diff and not making it to the bathroom in time (it can cause some pretty severe diarrhea). More common with probably kids or people with mobility issues.

It can be a very serious for sure - especially in the elderly.

However, in all honesty, I would not fret about this at all based on your description.

Bleach is actually not recommended for this. Neither are other commercial antibacterials, as well as over washing, all of which reduce our skin's own ability to protect itself.

I've read through much of the information in this article and it actually says the c-diff creates spores that shed, as well as a hard outer shield that can enable the bacteria to exist for years in a dormant state.

Also, apparently other than getting the bacteria through a cut in your skin, the only way to get sick from it is through ingestion.

Interesting! What links do you have for bleach not being recommended? It was highly recommended a couple years back, and when I do a quick search, I see lots of bleach recommendations for c-diff.

Simply just curious. Like I said, I didn't use bleach personally. (I don't like bleach or own it.)

1000Daisies said...

julymorning said...

1000Daisies said...
You are worried about somebody being contagious after they were diagnosed/treated way back in October?

Perhaps I'm the minority, but I honestly would not worry about that. I'd be more worried about using public restrooms personally than this. LOL

Sadly, I know people who have had c-diff. After Kid#3 was hospitalized the second (or was it the third?) time, he had c-diff, albeit a really, really, really mild case. Honestly, I'm not a bleach fan, and I didn't even use bleach in my house to disinfect. And guess what? Nobody caught it.
Also, I know somebody who had it (and didn't know it) and hosted for holidays (in a really small house), and nobody caught it either.

Now, I'm not making light of this because I do acknowledge that c-diff can be very serious and contagious. However, if you clean up and wash your hands properly, I just wouldn't be concerned. Worrying does nobody good. If you get it, then worry, but conquer it!

I'd be more concerned of somebody having c-diff and not making it to the bathroom in time (it can cause some pretty severe diarrhea). More common with probably kids or people with mobility issues.

It can be a very serious for sure - especially in the elderly.

However, in all honesty, I would not fret about this at all based on your description.

Bleach is actually not recommended for this. Neither are other commercial antibacterials, as well as over washing, all of which reduce our skin's own ability to protect itself.

I've read through much of the information in this article and it actually says the c-diff creates spores that shed, as well as a hard outer shield that can enable the bacteria to exist for years in a dormant state.

Also, apparently other than getting the bacteria through a cut in your skin, the only way to get sick from it is through ingestion.

Interesting! What links do you have for bleach not being recommended? It was highly recommended a couple years back, and when I do a quick search, I see lots of bleach recommendations for c-diff.

Simply just curious. Like I said, I didn't use bleach personally. (I don't like bleach or own it.)

It is in the link that I posted at the very beginning. It's an extensive article, there is more than just one page.

On the first page of the article, the second subheading is about cleaning, and in that second suggestions for cleaning is in blue. If you click on that, you go to where I read about bleach. It is the chemicals (which I and many on here will wholly attest to), are too noxious for us already sick, and that alone is good reason not to use it. I will no longer allow it used in my home, not in any form. My lungs can pick it up 3 rooms away and instantly shut down.

Post Edited (julymorning) : 1/9/2017 9:47:22 PM (GMT-7)

We use bleach wipes to clean from c-diff in the hospital. There are other disinfectants you may be able to purchase, Sanotracin. Hand washing with soap is recommended rather than hand sanitizer. If she was not symptomatic, with loose stools, you will probably be ok especially since you have cleaned everything so well. I am around it all the time and have not had it myself, thankfully.