Characteristic c-diff odor??

P_RN, ADN, RN · Mar 9, 2003

I can't smell anymore, but it used to be like a stable or barn-like "fragrance."

FullMoonMadness · Mar 9, 2003

Cant really do it justice. Its very foul and loud. and once you have smelled it,you will never forget it.

Sleepyeyes · Mar 9, 2003

yeah, it's a real gag-me-out-the-door smell. worse because you hafta smell it so doggoned OFTEN.

TNcanNURSE · Mar 9, 2003

Its difficult to describe if you've never smelled it.

BUT

Rest assured that when you come across a patient who may have C-diff diarrhea. It will have such a BEYOND AWFUL. way worse than ordinary stench that you will surely recognize that something is going on. The smell combined with the SX and HX = CDiff.

You can't miss it because it will slap you in the face. :p

sunnygirl272 · Mar 9, 2003

and it [frequently]has that orange, gelatinous mucousy look...and the smell is one you never forget and will spot from the doorway once you learn it....

rachel h, BSN, RN · Mar 9, 2003

What everyone else has said- once you smell it, you will know. It's just bitter and very foul...

SandyB · Mar 9, 2003

Agree with all of you...no way to describe it but once you smell it, you never forget.

frannybee · Mar 9, 2003

We have 2 pts with C.diff at the moment...not pretty. I've *never* had a problem with cleaning up faeces til this week and now I dread it.

RNonsense · Mar 9, 2003

*hold nose*

.....oh you will know!

Inge Allen · Mar 9, 2003

The C Diff smell has always reminded me of breast-fed babies' stool.

At our hospital, we refer to it as "The Whiff of the Diff"!

ERNurse752, RN · Mar 9, 2003

One word pretty much describes it:

BAD!

:eek: :uhoh3: :chair: