Nurses General Nursing
Published Mar 9, 2003
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
1,041 Posts
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
73 Posts
dawngloves, BSN, RN
2,399 Posts
Originally posted by VAC C-diff is thousands times more foul smelling than breast milk stools.
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
90 Posts
Yes! That's it! A sweet, kinda funky smell.
You nailed it. "sweet, funky smell"
Hygiene Queen
2,232 Posts
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
7,984 Posts
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
1,816 Posts
I don't think it smells thaaaaat bad. Just very... sickly.
VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN
22 Articles; 9,987 Posts
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
56 Posts
gag....
Indy, LPN, LVN
1,444 Posts
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
8,343 Posts
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
193 Posts
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..