C. diff (also known as Clostridioides difficile or C. difficile) is a germ (bacterium) that causes diarrhea and colitis (an inflammation of the colon).
- It’s estimated to cause almost half a million infections in the United States each year.
- About 1 in 6 patients who get C. diff will get it again in the subsequent 2-8 weeks.
- One in 11 people over age 65 diagnosed with a healthcare-associated C. diff infection
die within one month.
Risk Factors for C. diff:
C. diff can affect anyone. Most cases of C. diff occur when you’ve been taking antibiotics or not long after you’ve finished taking antibiotics. There are other risk factors:
Being 65 or older.
Recent stay at a hospital or nursing home.
A weakened immune system, such as people with HIV/AIDS, cancer, or organ. transplant patients taking immunosuppressive drugs.
Previous infection with C. diff or known exposure to the germs.
To learn more visit: What is C. diff? | CDC
C. diff Am I At Risk Factsheet:
C. diff Infection Progression Factsheet: Progression of a C. diff infection (cdc.gov)
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