Long-Term Care Survey Alert

How can nursing and medical staff avoid the spread of Clostridium difficile?

Use this checklist to help your staff rein in infections, especially C. diff.

• Document and communicate signs and symptoms of C. diff when they happen.
  
• Start contact precautions and other activities to prevent the spread of C. diff as soon as a person is found to have signs and symptoms that might be C. diff.
  
• Make sure that a stool sample for lab testing for C. diff is collected quickly when a person has new or worsening diarrhea.
  
• Be sure only liquid stools are collected. Be sure samples are handled the right way when being sent for lab testing for C. diff.
  
• Communicate the results of C. diff testing to medical staff as soon as results are available. Teach residents and family how antibiotics can increase the risk for C. diff.
  
• Teach residents and family about the signs of C. diff when starting an antibiotic.
  
• Become a leader for appropriate antibiotic use and infection prevention in your nursing home.
  

Source: Advancing Excellence in Long-Term Care Collaborative. Used with permission.