Is c-diff seriously contagious?

[sprintin08]

I am working as a nurse's aid in an assisted living facility this summer until i go back to school. Today, about 8 of the residents has severe diarrhea that I had to clean up. Some of the people had samples that are getting tested for c-diff. The nurse acted pretty sure atleast one had it. I wore gloves and washed my hands, but at one point the glove ripped in the middle of my palm and i had it all over my hand. Is c-diff really contagious? should i be worried???

[oslogirl]

I've never heard of a stool transplant?

[Lacie, BSN, RN]

https://allnurses.com/gastroenterology-nursing/fecal-transplant-351384.html

Previous thread on this but called "Fecal Transplant". I had the wrong terminology :imbar Either way Poo is Poo Lol. I'm not sure if the gentlemans daughter ever was able to get it approved but I do know she had been in contact with the docs that do this.

[oslogirl]

Wow. I had never heard of this before, but it makes sense as a last-resort tx. I,m going to run it by the other nurses at work. Thanks.

[silas2642]

I am working as a nurse's aid in an assisted living facility this summer until i go back to school. Today, about 8 of the residents has severe diarrhea that I had to clean up. Some of the people had samples that are getting tested for c-diff. The nurse acted pretty sure atleast one had it. I wore gloves and washed my hands, but at one point the glove ripped in the middle of my palm and i had it all over my hand. Is c-diff really contagious? should i be worried???

I'm not totally sure, but I think that they're more worried about the patients than they are about you. C. diff is found in the normal flora of a lot of people. The problem begins when pts are put on antibiotics. which wipes out their normal GI flora, allowing C. difficile to grow unchecked. It produces two toxins, which basically kills the GI lining and wreaks havoc on the GI tract, creating that nasty, foul smelling diarrhea.

[R.R.T.]

I have just been diagnosed with c-diff! I work in an LTAC as a Respiratory Therapist and have NO DIRECT fecal contact. I wash my hands up to my elbows repeatedly during my shift. I have even been told "you're going to wash your skin off". Still, I now have C-Diff! So, be aware that everywhere you touch could be "dirty". Wash scrubs alone; do not take your work shoes into your home and wash your hands just before you eat, use the bathroom and leave for the day. I do all of these things and still...positive! Good Luck!