Clostridium difficile (also known as ' C. difficile' or 'C. diff' ) is a bacterium that can be found in people's intestines (their 'digestive tract' or 'gut'). It is found in about 3% of adults and two-thirds of babies without causing any symptoms.

Clostridium difficile causes diarrhoea (mild to severe) and, unusually, life-threatening inflammation of the intestines.  Other symptoms can include fever, loss of appetite, nausea and abdominal pain or tenderness.  A person can become infected with Clostridium difficile if he/she ingests the bacterium. People who become infected with Clostridium difficile are usually those who have taken antibiotics, particularly the elderly and people whose immune systems are compromised.

In most patients the treatment for Clostridium difficile infection is antibiotic therapy.

To prevent the spread of the disease requires the implementation of infection control measures:-

• Patients with the infection should be cared for in side rooms.
• All patients should be encouraged to wash hands after visiting the toilet and before eating food.
• Staff should wear disposal gloves and aprons when caring for a patient with the infection and wash their hands after contact.
• Visitors should  be encouraged to wash hands before leaving the ward.
• Maintain a high standard of cleaning in the ward area.

If you require more detailed information about Clostridium difficile, please read the Clostridium difficile fact sheet (PDF, 150 KB)

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  Added/updated: 2 July 2008