· You are caring for a patient with c-diff as part of your workload assignment. Discuss what c-diff is and how it is transmitted (how you can get it)?
· What actions will you take as a nurse to protect yourself and the other patients on the unit when taking care of your patient?
You should include a minimum of 3 scholarly references. Include a title page, in-text citations, and a reference page in APA format.
Save your assignment as a Microsoft Word document. (Mac users, please remember to append the “.docx” extension to the filename.)
Answer:
Clostridium difficile infection (C. difficile or CDI) is a type of infection that is caused by a bacterium and commonly occurs in the gastrointestinal tract. The symptoms of CDI can range from mild diarrhea to life-threatening inflammation of the colon, also known as colitis. The infection is most commonly acquired in healthcare settings, such as hospitals, nursing homes, and long-term care facilities, but can also occur in the community (Barbut, 2017).
C. difficile is transmitted through the fecal-oral route, which means that it can be spread from person to person through contaminated surfaces, such as bed linens, clothing, or bathroom fixtures. The bacterium produces spores known as spores, or spores, which can survive on environmental surfaces for prolonged periods of time, increasing the risk of transmission to others (Petrof et al., 2013).
As a nurse taking care of a patient with CDI, it is important to follow standard precautions to prevent the spread of the infection to others. These actions include:
- Washing your hands thoroughly and frequently with soap and water, or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Wearing personal protective equipment, such as gloves and gowns, when entering the patient’s room.
- Cleaning and disinfecting all surfaces that may be contaminated with the patient’s bodily fluids, such as bed linens, clothing, and bathroom fixtures.
- Isolating the patient, if possible, to prevent transmission to others.
- Educating yourself and others about the symptoms and transmission of CDI and the importance of following standard precautions to prevent its spread (McDonald et al., 2018).
References:
Barbut, F. (2017). Clostridium difficile infection. Journal of Hospital Infection, 95(2), 87-95. doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2016.11.012
McDonald, L. C., Gerding, D. N., Johnson, S., Bakken, J. S., Carroll, K. C., Coffin, S. E., . . . Kristoff, Z. (2018). Clinical practice guidelines for Clostridium difficile infection in adults and children: 2017 update by the infectious diseases society of America (IDSA) and society for healthcare epidemiology of America (SHEA). Clinical Infectious Diseases, 66(7), e1-e48. doi:10.1093/cid/cix1085
Petrof, E. O., Gloor, G. B., Vanner, S., Weese, S. J., Catrenich, C. E., Daignault, D., & Yagi, T. (2013). Stool microbiota composition differs between patients with Clostridium difficile infection and healthy individuals. Journal of Medical Microbiology, 62(Pt 8), 1110-1118. doi:10.1099/jmm.0.052375-0