Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infection

Common symptoms of a C. diff infection include:

• diarrhoea
• a high temperature
• loss of appetite
• feeling sick
• a stomach ache

C. diff bacteria usually live harmlessly in your bowel along with lots of other types of bacteria.

But sometimes when you take antibiotics, the balance of bacteria in your bowel can change, causing an infection.

When someone has a C. diff infection, it can spread to other people very easily if the bacteria found in the person's poo get onto objects and surfaces.

Who's at risk

You're more likely to get a C. diff infection if:

• you're over 65 years
• you're taking, or have recently taken, antibiotics
• you're staying in hospital or a care home for a long time
• you have a weakened immune system – for example, from having a long-term condition like diabetes or kidney failure, or treatment like chemotherapy
• you're taking a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), such as omeprazole, or other medicines that reduce stomach acid
• you've had a C. diff infection in the past

If a doctor thinks you have a C. diff infection, they may ask for a sample of your poo to be tested.

The infection can sometimes be treated at home, or you might need to go into hospital. This is because C. diff infections can sometimes lead to more serious problems like sepsis.

C. diff infections are treated by:

• stopping any antibiotics you're already taking, if possible
• taking a new 10-day course of another antibiotic that can treat the C. diff infection

You'll also be given advice about how to avoid dehydration, such as making sure you drink plenty of water.

Your symptoms should improve a few days after starting the new course of antibiotics. But it may be 1 to 2 weeks before the infection clears up completely.

Go back to see the GP if your symptoms get worse, you feel very unwell after starting the antibiotics, or your symptoms come back afterwards.

If your symptoms return, or you become very unwell, treatment may need to be repeated or you may need treatment in hospital.

If the C. diff infection comes back 2 or more times, you may be offered a faecal microbiota transplant. This is where bacteria from a healthy person's poo is put into your gut to help stop the infection.

Carry on taking antibiotics prescribed for C. diff until you've finished all your tablets, capsules or liquid, even if you feel better. If you stop your treatment early, your symptoms could come back.

C. diff infections can spread very easily. There are some things you can do to reduce the risk of passing it on to others.

• stay at home until at least 48 hours after your diarrhoea stops

• wash your hands regularly using soap and water

• clean the toilet and area around it with disinfectant after each use

• wash clothes and sheets with poo on separately from other washing at the highest possible temperature

• do not share towels and flannels

• do not take medicine to stop diarrhoea like loperamide (Imodium) because it can prevent the infection being cleared from your body

• do not use hand sanitizer as this does not kill or remove C. diff

Common symptoms of a C. diff infection include diarrhoea, a high temperature, loss of appetite, feeling sick and a stomach ache.

You can get a C. diff infection if the balance of bacteria in your bowel changes. This often happens after taking antibiotics.

Treatments for C. diff include stopping the antibiotics that are causing it, taking a new type of antibiotic and drinking water to avoid dehydration.

Things you can do to prevent spreading a C. diff infection include cleaning the toilet after each use and washing your hands with soap and water.