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Posted 4/14/2013 1:20 PM (GMT 0)
I have a very good friend who is going thru hell. She had a hysterectomy due to severe endo but during her surgery, her surgeon accidently nicked her bladder and ended up with an abdomen full of blood. She had it surgically repaired and of course she was put on antibiotics which caused her to develop C. Diff. She's on her second course of antibiotics because the first course I guess didn't get rid of it.

I feel so sorry that she is going thru all this but I have a question. We go to her house frequently and if I'm not mistaken, C. Diff is contagious yes? If so, how long does it stick around? I have not been to her house since her original hysterectomy, I want to go see her but I don't want to put myself at risk.
Posted 4/14/2013 1:29 PM (GMT 0)
I'm assuming your signature is up to date and you are still doing Remicade. C-Diff is quite contagious and I would think that while on Remicade that would be doubly so.
Posted 4/14/2013 1:36 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, my sig is current. Do you know how long it sticks around after her C. Diff is gone?
Posted 4/14/2013 1:59 PM (GMT 0)
I really don't have a lot of knowledge in this area but I do know it is a very huge problem in hospitals, rehabs, and nursing homes and other similar type facilities so I'm guessing the germs do not just die off quickly. From what I understand healthy people don't usually have to worry about it much because your good gut bacterias can keep it in check even if you do catch it. Unfortunately for them the C-Diff can stay in their systems in check but then if they ever have to go on antibiotics or suffer from a health situation of some kind then wham, it can come out of nowhere for them. It is more easily catchable if you have health issues or are on imminusuppressive drugs which I would think Remicade would classify as. You have a right to be afraid of this. We have to go through enough stuff already. C-Diff can sometimes be very hard to get rid of once you have it, even for healthy people.
Posted 4/14/2013 2:21 PM (GMT 0)
My doctor told me once you are on antibiotics for three days that its not contagious anymore. I only know because when i was discharged from the hospital he said it was fine to share bathrooms again. Nobody in my house has gotten it and there are three other people living with me.
Posted 4/14/2013 2:47 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the replies. My friend and her partner are generally healthy people and can be borderline germaphobes. They wash their hands all the time but from what I understand is that the spores can linger. One article I read said they can linger for 3 months and another said up to 2 years. But a bleach wash is the only way to sterilize the area(s) because conventional anti-bacterial cleansers don't work on it.

However, I don't want to be afraid or paranoid every time I go over their house. Of course I will wait until she is well and the house sterilized but I don't want to NOT go over there for 2 years.
Posted 4/14/2013 5:41 PM (GMT 0)
Sherry....how sad for your friend to have been going through such a horrible time.

Hand washing is the trick, but not using the same drying towel. Paper towels is best. Carry alcohol based steriliser or wipes and use it when you enter (to help protect her as well), and when you leave the house before entering your car.

Since they're germaphobes, it's a good thing.

I do hope they close the toilet when flushing...if not, encourage that fact. If you have to use the bathroom, put toilet paper on the seat before sitting.

I agree with you that you need to be careful, but basically, it's hand to mouth. Maybe talk to her openly as to what she expects of visitors and to tell her that you have to protect yourself as well...she shouldn't be offended.

I hope she's on probiotic as well as her husband.

Yes, it can stick around, but remember that much of it is based on carelessness....we can pick it up from anywhere we go.

Up your probiotics anyway...

I hope your friend's able to rid her body of the offending c.diff.

q
Posted 4/14/2013 7:58 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Q...I am not sure if she is on probiotics or her girlfriend (not husband). But I can ask. My friends g/f (who btw is also one of my best friends) called me today because I texted her my concerns and she assured me that she's been a cleaning maniac and that she has already talked to the dr about the proper precautions but I will ask her about the toilet lid.
Posted 4/14/2013 8:25 PM (GMT 0)
It's very contagious but not airborne....you have to touch the feces or a surface the feces touched.

My mother in law just recently passed away from complications of C diff infection. (she was also a cancer patient with a compromised immune system.) C diff is very serious if your body is too weak to fight it. Hope your friend is okay.
Posted 4/14/2013 10:57 PM (GMT 0)
I'm glad you talked to them about it. I know they don't want you to get it, having just been through it.

I think you should be fine in the public parts of the house, and of course you're already a crazy handwasher. I am :)
Posted 4/15/2013 12:01 AM (GMT 0)
This makes me feel better...thank you! Only because I know these two ladies and their "clean" ways. I really love these two like they're family so I would hate to feel uncomfortable in their home.

Tornado, I'm not a crazy hand washer....but I do do my share of hand cleaning :)
Posted 4/15/2013 4:32 AM (GMT 0)
C Diff sticks around on surfaces for a VERY long time....and the only way to kill the germs is with bleach, other cleaners and disinfectants will not kill these germs.
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