C Diff

[Perfectms10]

Hi Everyone; New here. Huge debate at my facility regarding C Diff. We do not have an "Infection Control Nurse" at this time. The setting is a SNF; great rehab facility. Here's my dilemma. I always thought that in a room with two patients; that the person with the cdiff uses the bathroom and the person without the cdiff uses a commode. I searched the medicare quidelines and can only find to use a private room or co-habitat. Please clarify. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Vanessa

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

I'm not sure you can make another pt leave if they have C diff? Doesn't sound right. Hey...we don't have any place to put you...you have c diff. you need to find a new place to live. Uh No. Ain't gonna fly.

The facility needs another policy in place.

I understand what you are trying to say though.

[Undecided7]

Michelle- how well would it fly if your roommate had a HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS infection (like you were almost GUARANTEED to get it) but there was no other room for the person and geez- we can't just make him leave his home- How would you feel about that? Don't forget the SMELL- OMG!!! Oh, and don't forget you can actually die from it- especially if you happen to be old and fraile- from severe dehydration, malnurishment, and electrolyte imbalances.

Why do you think they make such a big deal about C-diff and putting people in isolation in the hospital??? :uhoh21:

[Just wondering]

I think that if a pt/resident is infected they should have their own private room. Even if the uninfected pt still has to use the commode, they have to dump it somewhere which means bringing in the potty into the bathroom (where the infected pt uses) and flushing the fecal matters down then rinsing......and who knows what's on the handle. Does the pt use gloves after wiping his/her bottom? odds are, No.

As mentioned before, the practice is not good.

As a new nurse, what comes on my mind the most is negligence. Am I doing the right thing always b/c as a nurse we can be called upon in the future for our past misstakes. What should happened if the roommate gets infected and the family sues in the future. Looking back did I take all the precautions necessary? Did I follow the agency's policy and is it within the state regs. This whole nursing is getting scary nowadays with laibility.

[allele, LPN]

I've worked in two different facilities that do two different things. I used to work in a rehab where the patient with c-diff would use the toilet and the person without c-diff would use the bathroom.....the theory there was that we didn't want to pour waste from the infected patient into the clean toilet. I don't necessarily agree with this method, but I have to admit that c-diff didn't exactly run rampant in that facility. Now I work in a facility where c-diff patients get a private room or cohort with other c-diff patients only. It's a very strict policy, especially now. I'm not sure about other areas of the country, but in my little section of New England we're seeing an increase in community acquired c-diff infections and a large increase in in-hospital patients with c-diff. They're saying now that even PPI's and H2 blockers could be contributing.....and everyone in a hospital is on one or the other! Well, I suggest you read the link to the CDC website that one of the posters provided...I just read it and it's quite interesting! Good luck! :)