What can be done to prevent Clostridioides difficile infection?
What can be done to prevent Clostridioides difficile infection?
To prevent Clostridioides difficile infection, hospitals and nursing homes take the following precautions:
- Ask the patient to clean their hands after using the bathroom.
- Make sure all healthcare providers clean their hands before and after caring for every patient.
- Use a disinfectant to clean rooms and equipment.
- Give patients antibiotics only when necessary.
- Alert any facility to which a Clostridioides difficile patient may be transferred.
When caring for patients with Clostridioides difficile hospitals and nursing homes will:
- Place patients with Clostridioides difficile infection in a private room whenever possible.
- Place the patient in Contact Precautions, also known as isolation. Healthcare providers wear gloves and a gown over their clothing when entering the room and wash their hands with soap and water when leaving the room.
- Have patients with Clostridioides difficile infection remain in their room unless they need to leave for medically necessary treatments or therapies.
- Ask visitors, or anyone entering the room, to clean their hands when they come in and before they leave the room.
Hospitals and nursing homes may also ask the patient’s visitors to:
- Wear gloves and a gown especially if they are helping to provide care.
- Not eat or drink in the patient’s room.
- Not use the patient’s bathroom.