Spores are transmitted from patient to patient via inappropriately sanitized or washed hands and also through the use of contaminated communal equipment. Thorough hand hygiene, using soap and water, and strict adherence to isolation precautions are therefore the foundation for effective Clostridium Difficile transmission prevention. Hand washing and strict isolation should be observed when caring for patients even after resolution of symptoms improve, as they are still capable of shedding spores long after clinical symptoms subside. It is important for nurses to correspond with their Infection Control staff to determine appropriate duration of isolation for the patient with a current or prior history of Clostridium Difficile infection on a case-by-case basis. Also, nurses must be careful to sanitize equipment that is shared between patients, and partner with environmental services to successfully clean areas of potential contamination. Typically, regular active cleansing ingredients in hospital disinfectants are quaternary ammonium compounds and do not kill spores. The Centers for Disease Control currently recommends using hypochlorite-based germicides, such as bleach-based solutions, for cleaning Clostridium Difficile contaminated surfaces and
Spores are transmitted from patient to patient via inappropriately sanitized or washed hands and also through the use of contaminated communal equipment. Thorough hand hygiene, using soap and water, and strict adherence to isolation precautions are therefore the foundation for effective Clostridium Difficile transmission prevention. Hand washing and strict isolation should be observed when caring for patients even after resolution of symptoms improve, as they are still capable of shedding spores long after clinical symptoms subside. It is important for nurses to correspond with their Infection Control staff to determine appropriate duration of isolation for the patient with a current or prior history of Clostridium Difficile infection on a case-by-case basis. Also, nurses must be careful to sanitize equipment that is shared between patients, and partner with environmental services to successfully clean areas of potential contamination. Typically, regular active cleansing ingredients in hospital disinfectants are quaternary ammonium compounds and do not kill spores. The Centers for Disease Control currently recommends using hypochlorite-based germicides, such as bleach-based solutions, for cleaning Clostridium Difficile contaminated surfaces and