I can't smell c-diff

[ixchel]

I've cared for a fair share of c-diff patients, none of them with a terribly offensive BM, so I've simply assumed I got them later in their treatment, when the infection is essentially gone.

A recent patient required a cleanup, and a nurse came to help me. The very first thing he asked was if the patient had cdiff. My response was that I didn't think so, to which he stated that this lady definitely has it. Then he said, "can't you smell that?!"

Well, no, I couldn't. (I promise this isn't bragging. lol) But is this normal? Anyone out there who doesn't smell it either? Maybe this is like the genetic link behind tasting PTC. lol

[softrbreeze]

Nope. I can't smell the difference either. Glad to know I'm not the only one!

[Smiley, RN]

I can't smell C-diff either. I tend to not be able to differentiate smells well. When in the presence of offensive odors, others will be making faces or dry heaving and I'm having a pleasant conversation with the patient. To me a GI bleed smell is distinct, but not unbearable. The only thing that has ever made me dry heave is a big abdominal fold that had not been cleaned in quite a while. I had to find an excuse to walk away in order to be polite to the patient. Then I gathered myself and returned quickly to finish the job.

[Farawyn]

I think a lot of nurses who claim they can smell c-diff only say so because they feel they should be able to and they think everyone else can. Thus furthering the myth that "everyone" can smell it except you.

Nope. I really don't care that much about being "the gal who can smell CDiff, haha!".

I can. It's sweet-ish.

[RamTaur]

You guys can't smell C-diff?!! Unbelievable! Can you tell the difference between foul smelling urine that indicates any type of infections? I'm curious.

[socialworknurse]

I can't smell the difference either...glad I'm not the only one. For some reason the smell of old coffee grounds in a patient's room makes me gag!

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Can smell that from across the unit and UTIs. Those are the easy ones.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

I think I just found a way to get rich: invent some scratch and sniff stickers for nurses and students to use as reference. C.Diff, pseudamonas, needs-oral-care-STAT, ampicillin-urine, and many others.

Don't forget neuro breath!!

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

I can smell it, but like others have said it's not like a knock-your-socks-off nasty odor. I've always described it as a "sickly sweet" smell (not a technical term...a Here.I.Stand's Mom term!)

[Graduatenurse14]

I can't tell c-diff smell from regular smelly poop either!

[ixchel]

If you don't deal with very often I can see why you wouldn't notice the difference, but it is there. C-diff has a pretty distinctive odor, kind of sweet but foul. Reminds me a little of something rotting, but I can't quite describe what. Not really rotting meat or fruit, just something rotting. Unlike Pseudomonas which has a pretty distinctive musty, rotting fruit odor. An instructor once described that to us as grapes going bad. But then I have smelled actual grapes going bad and it didn't smell a darn thing like Pseudomonas to me. Of course, my sniffer isn't the best, not necessarily a bad thing!

I definitely get at least a patient or two each week with cdiff and definitely don't smell it.

[ixchel]

You guys can't smell C-diff?!! Unbelievable! Can you tell the difference between foul smelling urine that indicates any type of infections? I'm curious.

Oh, yes, and the one that gets me the worst with urine is when they're on zosyn. God that smells terrible.

(Funny side note - my phone wanted to change zosyn to Costner.)

[No Stars In My Eyes]

Wouldn't mind having a dose of the Costner.....