Clostridium difficile Infection
People getting medical care can catch serious infections called healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). While most types of HAIs are declining, one – caused by the germ C. difficile – remains at historically high levels. C. difficile causes diarrhea linked to 14,000 American deaths each year. Those most at risk are people, especially older adults, who take antibiotics and also get medical care. CDC provides guidelines and tools to the healthcare community to help prevent Clostridium difficile infections as well as provides resources to help the public safeguard their own health.
Resources for...
Patients
General information for you and your family about Clostridium difficile, FAQs, resources for patients…
Clinicians
FAQs, guidelines and recommendations, CDC expert commentaries…
Facilities/Settings
Clostridium difficile infections tools, evaluating environmental cleaning tools…
State Health Departments
Clostridium difficile baseline prevention practices assessment tool, collaboration primer, collaborative Q/A, policy tools…
New: Vital Signs
Tracking C. difficile
A full picture of C. difficile is possible using complimentary systems
- Emerging Infections Program (EIP) –surveillance representative of the whole country.
- National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) – data entered from hospitals.
- HHS Action Plan – targets and metrics toward reducing specific HAIs, including C. difficile
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