Characteristic c-diff odor??

[CraftyLPN]

HI..

GOT a question........

I have ben researching c-diff the last couple days..to broaden my learning on it.....

But I have also heard that when a pt. has c-diff there is a characteristic smell to the BM....

WHAt's it smell like?

(I :imbar

[mario_ragucci]

Clostridium Difficiles Toxins

I still try hard to understand how sensitive our nose is to distinguish the distinct odors.

From what i understand, the smell is actually in the liquid BM stools, along with the mucous and blood streaks. These pseudomonas are "animals" that live in you and make toxins. I think the odor is in the toxins these animals make.

It would also make sense that a Methycillin Resistant Staph Aureus (MRSA) PT would have BM's that would be notable as well.

[Jaaaman]

[dawngloves, BSN, RN]

Originally posted by VAC

C-diff is thousands times more foul smelling than breast milk stools.

Now see, people say breast milk stools don't stink. I beg to differ! Sh*t is sh*t and it all smells. Now when I get a whiff of diff that's the thing I can most liken it to.

[newonboard]

Yes! That's it! A sweet, kinda funky smell.

You nailed it. "sweet, funky smell"

[Hygiene Queen]

Let's put it this way, when you first encounter it, you will KNOW it ain't right. You will instinctively reach for the nearest spec container and ship that puppy out.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I must have never had the 'pleasure' because I have heard this for years. Most times as a CNA, I worked in psych and clinics, as a nurse, only in the clinic, so, I don't get as many opportunities. The one time I did have a known C-diff patient was when I had a bad allergy and could not even have smelled myself

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

I don't think it smells thaaaaat bad. Just very... sickly.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

It's awful..............ranks right up there with GI bleed and gangrene in the odoriferous-emanation department. I've got a cast-iron stomach, but C. diff makes me want to throw up.

[MaverickyMaverick]

gag....

[Indy, LPN, LVN]

Not only does it smell bad, but it also can look just like chicken gumbo from the hospital cafeteria.

Side note: I think it smells less bad than what I'm calling "liverhead" poop these days. A combo of huge doses of lactulose, a diabetic diet on someone with very little liver function and on dialysis, and this stuff looks like boiled playdoh. I can't even begin to describe the smell but one day I will possibly faint from it.

[Fiona59]

I must have never had the 'pleasure' because I have heard this for years. Most times as a CNA, I worked in psych and clinics, as a nurse, only in the clinic, so, I don't get as many opportunities. The one time I did have a known C-diff patient was when I had a bad allergy and could not even have smelled myself

Crap you were lucky.

We had a patient who didn't want to go home. Day of discharge, she suddenly reports having "really smelly runny sh*t all night" (not witnessed of course). Nice resident orders we collect next sample to test. Five hours late, one pasty stool arrives. Resident: make sure it's tested. Me: it's green, pasty, doesn't smell, NOT cdiff.

Resident owes me three lattes.

[evilolive, BSN, RN]

I've had 1-2 residents in a LTC facility with C-diff, and I must say, I have never noticed "the smell." Some people say they have encountered it down the hall, but I don't really know what they're referring to. Just my story..