Life After C. diff
You and your children should return to work or school only when your symptoms have stopped.
The risk of spreading C. diff after completing treatment is low. But if you’re carrying the germ even without symptoms (see the “Your Risk of C. diff” page), you can still spread it to others.
So always wash your hands with soap and water before you eat and after you use the bathroom. Showering and washing with soap is the best way to remove any C. diff germs you might be carrying on your body.
No, because once you recover from your C. diff infection, you could still be carrying the germs.
A test would only show the germs are still there, but not whether you’re likely to become sick again.
About one in 6 people who’ve had C. diff will get infected again in the subsequent 2-8 weeks. This can be a relapse of their original infection, or it can happen when they come in contact with C. diff again.
The best way to be sure you don’t get C. diff again is to work with your healthcare professional to avoid taking unnecessary antibiotics and to wash your hands with soap and water every time you use the bathroom and before you eat anything.
If you’ve had a C. diff infection, tell your healthcare professional. This important information will help them make the best decisions when prescribing antibiotics in the future.
This is as important at your dentist’s office as it is when you see your primary care doctor.
The best way to be sure you don’t get C. diff again is to:
- Work with your healthcare professional to avoid taking unnecessary antibiotics.
- Tell your healthcare professional if you’ve had a C. diff infection. This important information will help them make the best decisions when prescribing antibiotics in the future.
- Wash your hands with soap and water every time you use the bathroom and before you eat anything.
No. Hospitals are required to report C. diff infections to CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). Some states also require other healthcare facilities to report C. diff infections, but the requirements vary from state to state. Contact your local or state health department for information specific to your state.