Newsletter Wellness : Health-Care "Nourish n Flourish" : November is C. diff Awareness Month

Spread the Word, Not C. diff Join CDC in November for C. diff Awareness Month to raise awareness about this potentially deadly threat.

Did you know? Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) is a germ that causes diarrhea and colitis (an inflammation of the colon) and can be life-threatening. CDC estimates that C. diff causes almost half a million infections in the United States each year. Who is at risk?

Anyone can get a C. diff infection, but certain factors increase your risk. Most cases of C. diff infection occur during or after you’ve finished taking an antibiotic. Risk factors include:

	Antibiotic use in the last 3 months

	Previous infection with C. diff or known exposure to the germs

	Older age (65 or older)

	Recent stay at a hospital or nursing home

	A weakened immune system, such as people with HIV/AIDS or cancer, or organ transplant patients taking immunosuppressive drugs

Help protect yourself, your family, and your community from C. diff:

Patients and families, please read and share with your family and friends:

The effect of antibiotics on the microbiome and what symptoms to look for.
How you can prevent the spread of C. diff infection.
Maryann Webb’s encounter with this deadly infection in the latest Safe Healthcare Blog post: “I am a C. diff survivor. What I know now and what I want others to know.”
New C. diff educational resources on symptoms, risk factors, and more.

Healthcare professionals, we invite you to read and share:

New C. diff healthcare resources with information on optimizing antibiotic therapy; educating patients about their risk for and symptoms of C. diff infection, and how to seek care if symptoms develop.
Facts for clinicians about C. diff.
FREE print materials (type “C. diff” in the ‘Keyword or PubID’ search box, then click “Apply”).

C. diff Awareness Month also coincides with U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week (USAAW) November 18-24, an annual observance to raise awareness of the threat of antimicrobial resistance and the importance of appropriate antibiotic and antifungal use. Learn how you can Be Antibiotics Aware to help prevent C. diff infection.

Infection control is critical to stopping the spread of C. diff in healthcare settings. It’s important that all healthcare professionals understand the infection control actions they should take to stop the spread of germs. CDC’s Project Firstline provides innovative and accessible infection control resources so you can help keep your patients safe.

Learn more at cdc.gov/c-diff.