C-Diff Isolation

Is there someone from infection control that you can speak to about this? Many places will have a written policy about who can room with who.

What setting is your place of employment? Does the other pt use the shared bathroom?

My hospital is doing a major push to prevent hospital acquired c-diff. Yes, your c-diff neg patient is definitely at risk in this situation. C-diff is highly transmittable. We have all private rooms, but were educated on changing gloves frequently when providing pt care, change gloves before touching the nurse server, bleach your spectralink upon exiting the room if you answered it while in c-diff iso room, gown and glove up every time you enter the room, even if you're just gonna hang a flush.

If the other patient is not positive for C-Diff, they cannot room together. Patients on contact isolation can be roomed with someone who is infected with the same exact infection IF there is no private room available. Private room is preferred.

I wonder about this too. I work at a SNF and we have really unclear isolation rules. Our residents with c-diff can go to the dining room as long as they have formed BMs yet we have to gown up when we enter their rooms. I think I'm the only one who ever wears a gown when entering the rooms. I tell the CNAs but they just dont listen.

It depends upon your facility policy. In the local LTC facilities where I live, c-diff residents area allowed to roam as long as the stools are contained (read: wearing a brief). I think this is bad, potentially dangerous/deadly policy, but any time I bring it up, I'm basically told to stifle it! With residents who are more confused and/or not as careful with hand hygiene, this is asking for trouble. I've been an infection control specialist, and have had c-diff, so am pretty well versed on it. The excuses? "The family/resident doesn't want confined to the room". To me, how about, "everyone else doesn't want c-diff!" I gown and glove anytime that I will be within 2 feet of resident and/or risk touching them or personal items of said resident

I wonder about this too. I work at a SNF and we have really unclear isolation rules. Our residents with c-diff can go to the dining room as long as they have formed BMs yet we have to gown up when we enter their rooms. I think I'm the only one who ever wears a gown when entering the rooms. I tell the CNAs but they just dont listen.

Live and learn I guess...would be one hell of a way to learn from one's mistake though:yuck:...just hope they don't pass it along to another poor resident

Yes, C-diff is a contact precaution and technically should not be in the same room. Now, having had C-diff in the past myself (took Augmentin right before I got it and continued despite the severe ahem..diarrhea it gave me) My husband never left the home, nor did we for go using the same bathroom or bedroom. He never got it. But maybe because I used good hand hygiene? So I don't know anymore. I know C-diff can be transmitted by contact, i.e. touching and infected surface and then touching your mouth.

Gown and glove for sure, wash hands after leave the room, bleach wipes/burn/destroy anything that comes out of said room. Use an iso stethoscope, own set of items for VS.

Came back after a few days off to a patient newly placed on C diff precautions, wanted to throw up every time I came out of the room. Ughhhhhh!