Long-Term Care Survey Alert

Published on Tue Oct 13, 2015 PDF

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.