What is C. difficile and how should care be modified?

Prepare for the Nurse Aide I Module B – Infection Prevention Test. Leverage multiple choice questions, detailed flashcards, and comprehensive explanations. Ensure your readiness for the exam!

C. difficile is a bacterium that forms hardy spores, which can survive on surfaces in the environment. Because of these spores, prevention relies on hand hygiene with soap and water (alcohol-based hand rubs do not reliably kill spores) and environmental cleaning with sporicidal disinfectants. Implementing contact precautions—gloves, gowns—and isolating the patient as needed helps prevent spread to others. It’s important to recognize that C. difficile is not a virus and it does not spread via airborne particles or injections, so those approaches aren’t appropriate for stopping transmission.