Prevent the Spread of C. diff

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Information for Patients

C. diff germs are carried from person to person in poop.

If someone with C. diff (or caring for someone with C. diff) doesn’t clean their hands with soap and water after using the bathroom, they can spread the germs to everything they touch.

And if someone with C. diff can’t take a shower with soap and water, they can end up with C. diff germs on their skin.

Then, when someone else touches the skin of that person, or the surfaces that person touched, they can pick up the germs on their hands.

C. diff germs are so small relative to our size that if you were the size of the state of California, a germ would be the size of a baseball home plate. There’s no way you can see C. diff germs on your hands, but that doesn’t mean they’re not there.

Washing with soap and water is the only way to prevent the spread from person to person.

Remember: you can come in contact with C. diff germs—and even carry them on, or in, your body—and not get sick. But that doesn’t mean you can’t infect others.