Clostridium Difficile

Clostridium Difficile (C. difficile) 

How is the C. difficile rate calculated?

The infection rate is calculated as a rate per 1,000 patient days. “Total number of patient days” represents the sum of the number of days during which services were provided to all inpatients during the given time period.

The rate is calculated as follows: 

Number of new hospital acquired cases of C. difficile in our facility x 1000
Total number of patient days (for one month) 

Number of Cases and Rates

          Click here to view past rates and number of cases

Frequently Asked Questions 

What is C. difficile?

C. difficile is one of many germs (bacteria) that can be found in a bowel movement (stool). C. difficile disease occurs when antibiotics kill your good bowel bacteria and allow the C. difficile to grow. When C. difficile grows, it creates toxins that can damage your bowel and cause diarrhea. C. difficile is one example of a healthcare-associated infection and is one of the most common infections found in hospitals and long-term care facilities.  

Who is at risk for C. difficile?

Healthy people are not usually susceptible to C. difficile. Seniors and people who have illnesses or conditions being treated with antibiotics and other stomach medications are at greater risk of an infection from C. difficile. 

What are the symptoms of C. difficile?

The usual symptoms are mild but can be severe. The main symptoms are:

• watery diarrhea
• fever
• abdominal pain /tenderness

In some cases there may not be diarrhea. Blood may or may not be present in the stool. 

How is C. difficile spread?

When a person has C. difficile, the germs in the stool can soil surfaces such as toilets, handles, bedpans, or commode chairs. When touching these items, your hands can become soiled. If you then touch your mouth, you can swallow the germ. Your soiled hands can spread germs that can survive for a long time on other surfaces if not properly cleaned.   

How is C. difficile diagnosed?

If you have symptoms of C. difficile, your doctor will ask for a sample of your stool to test. 

How is C. difficile treated?

Treatment depends on how sick you are. People with mild symptoms may not need treatment. For more severe cases, antibiotics are required. 

How is the spread of C. difficile prevented in the hospital?

The spread of C. difficile occurs due to inadequate hand hygiene and environmental cleaning; therefore, proper control is achieved through consistent hand hygiene and thorough cleaning of the patient environment. Good hand hygiene (i.e. washing hands thoroughly and often) is the single-most effective way to prevent the spread of infectious diseases like C. difficile.  

If you have C. difficile diarrhea you will be moved to a private room until you are free from diarrhea for at least two days. Your activities outside the room will be restricted.  All healthcare providers who enter your room will wear gowns and gloves. Your visitors may also be asked to wear gowns and gloves. Everyone must clean their hands when leaving your room. Always wash your hands after using the bathroom.   

What is Markham Stouffville Hospital doing to improve patient safety?

Markham Stouffville Hospital is in the process of implementing the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care’s Just Clean Your Hands hand hygiene initiative. Our goal is to improve patient and health care provider safety by implementing a baseline observation and audit process program.  This initiative will help healthcare providers continue to perform proper hand hygiene.    

If you have any questions about the hospital’s infection prevention and control program, please contact:

Mary-Lou James
Director, Patient Relations
905-472-7095 

Sheila Churilla
Manager, Infection Prevention and Control
905-472-7000 ext. 6398