I can't smell c-diff

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in critical care.

I've cared for a fair share of c-diff patients, none of them with a terribly offensive BM, so I've simply assumed I got them later in their treatment, when the infection is essentially gone.

A recent patient required a cleanup, and a nurse came to help me. The very first thing he asked was if the patient had cdiff. My response was that I didn't think so, to which he stated that this lady definitely has it. Then he said, "can't you smell that?!"

Well, no, I couldn't. (I promise this isn't bragging. lol) But is this normal? Anyone out there who doesn't smell it either? Maybe this is like the genetic link behind tasting PTC. lol

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Specializes in Fall prevention.

I can't smell it either but of course I can't smell anything at all which is both a blessing and a curse.

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Maybe you don't notice the smell because you are expecting it to be this super offensive odor. C-diff is not the most offensive smell, kind of this weird sweet smell.

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Specializes in Psych.

I never smelled it either. Maybe I just didn't notice but coworkers would get grossed out. Haven't worked with a c diff patient in a while but I really thought it was just me.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.

I've never been able to smell the difference between cdiff feces and regular feces, either.

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I can't smell it either. I have horrible allergies so I always assumed it was that. We had a resident with comfort measures only who had it and I smelled absolutely nothing, so cleanup duties fell to me!

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Specializes in critical care.

Ahhhhhh I'm so glad I'm not crazy!!!! Thank you for choosing to respond to this thread! 😂

Maybe it is that I'm expecting something horrific but I really don't smell anything different with cdiff.

If any of you doctorates out there are looking for some research, let's look at the genetics of this beautiful gift. lol

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Maybe you don't notice the smell because you are expecting it to be this super offensive odor. C-diff is not the most offensive smell, kind of this weird sweet smell.

Possibly.

I've been known to be the "poop whisperer"; and have done it all; bowel disimpactions, especially with SCI patients, and have to remove c-diff poop to many different people's from infants to older adults whose poop that smell worse than c-diff. *shrugs*

Some people have sensitive noses; while others can clean up Lower GI Bleed poop and still eat cookies while the remnant smell is in the air-true story.--->

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Me either. Been a nurse 5 years. Had tons of CDIFF patients. I think people just imagine what they want.

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I can't smell the difference either ....

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C-diff and pseudomonas have distinctive odors to me. But I think that is because of familiarity; a long time ago, I knew rotavirus by the smell as soon as I walked in the room. I doubt I would recognize it now.

C-diff isn't an immediately overwhelming smell, like a GI bleed. To me, it is just a whiff that is different, along with the basic odor.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

C-diff with a side order of flagyl odor is quite distinct.

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