What to do if a family member has a C. diff?

Author: Theron Schumm  |  Last update: Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Always wash your hands before and after caring for your loved one, after using the bathroom, and before you eat. Try to use a separate bathroom if your loved one has diarrhea. If you can't, disinfect all surfaces (like doorknobs and toilets) with a bleach cleaner routinely.

What to do if you've been around someone with C. diff?

Stop the spread

diff infection or are caring for someone with C. diff infection, wash your hands with soap and water every time you use the bathroom and before you eat. Remind relatives and friends taking care of you to do the same. Try to use a separate bathroom if you have diarrhea from C.

Can you sleep in the same bed with someone who has C. diff?

Patients with a diagnosed C. diff infection should not share a room with someone who does not have the infection. If you do share a room and your roommate contracts C. diff, ask to be moved.

Is it OK to visit someone with C. diff?

Still, to make it safer for visitors, they should: clean their hands before entering and when leaving a C. Diff patient room. Visitors also should ask the nurse if they need to wear protective gowns and gloves when they visit a patient with C. Diff.

Can I pass C. diff to my family?

The risk of spreading C. diff after completing treatment is low. But if you're carrying the germ, even without symptoms, you can still spread it to others and should follow prevention measures.

“C. diff” - How It Spreads, Symptoms & Prevention

What kills C. diff in laundry?

Hot water washing at temperatures greater than 160 degrees F for 25 minutes and low temperature washing at 71 to 77 degrees F (22-25 degrees C) with a 125-part-per-million (ppm) chlorine bleach rinse remain effective ways to process laundry.

Can I hug someone with a C. diff?

C. difficile is usually not spread through casual contact such as touching or hugging.

Can I touch someone with C. diff?

Yes, you can be around someone with C. diff if you take precautions. To minimize the risk of spreading the infection, you should: Wash your hands frequently. Avoid touching your nose, mouth and eyes.

What kills the C. diff virus?

Antibiotics are the main treatment for C. difficile infection. Commonly used antibiotics include: Vancomycin (Firvanq Kit). Fidaxomicin (Dificid).

When are you no longer contagious with C. diff?

Precautions are no longer needed once the diarrhea has stopped for at least 48 -72 hours and your bowel movements are normal. If the diarrhea comes back, please tell your doctor, as C. diff may stay in your bowel.

Can you kiss a person with C. diff?

In general, exposure to C. diff does not cause infection in healthy people; this includes pregnant women, babies, and children. Casual contact such as hugging, and kissing is OK.

What is the number one cause of C. diff?

Illness from C. difficile often occurs after using antibiotic medicines. It mostly affects older adults in hospitals or in long-term care settings. People not in care settings or hospitals also can get C. difficile infection.

How do you disinfect your house from C. diff?

The bathroom is a common reservoir of C. difficile spores. Spray or wipe down all surfaces with Clorox Healthcare Bleach Germicidal Cleaner Bottle or Clorox Healthcare Bleach Germicidal Wipes. Be sure to wash down sinks and the interior (bowel) and exterior.

How long does it take to get sick after being exposed to C. diff?

Of people who do become ill, it usually takes about three days between exposure and the development of symptoms. What is the treatment for C. diff? Treatment might not be necessary for those who are only colonized with C.

Can I use the same shower as someone with C. diff?

When resources allow, it is a best practice to designate a bathroom to individuals with Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infection. C. diff is a germ that causes diarrhea and inflammation of the colon.

Does Lysol wipe clean C. diff?

Regardless of the product type, all disinfectant wipes had some sporicidal effect but transferred C. difficile spores from contaminated to otherwise previously uncontaminated surfaces. Disinfectant wipes retain C. difficile spores during and after the wiping process.

Does C. diff survive washing machine?

Clostridium difficile spores are able to survive laundering through a commercial washer extractor and may be contributing to sporadic outbreaks of CDI. Further research to establish exposure of laundry workers, patients, and the hospital environment to C.

What are the end stages of C. diff?

If your C. diff infection is severe, you could get severe intestinal inflammation. Your colon could also get enlarged and you could develop an extreme response called sepsis. All of these problems are serious and could send you to the hospital.

Can I sleep with my husband if I have a C. diff?

There is a slight chance of spreading C. difficile to your spouse. Wash your hands well before and after contact with each other.

Is it safe to visit someone with C. diff?

difficile. Visitors should clean their hands before and after they visit. Visitors should wear gown and gloves to enter and carefully discard when exiting. They should not visit or have contact with other patients while in the hospital.

How long does C. diff live on bedding?

C. diff spores can linger for a very long time. In fact, they have been shown to survive on hard surfaces for up to five months.

What kills C. diff naturally?

Probiotics, which are live bacteria, such as lactobacilli can also be used to treat C. difficile by restoring balance to the intestinal flora [11, 43]. Probiotics also help limit the growth and toxicity of harmful bacteria like C. difficile by competing for nutrients [11].

When am I no longer contagious with C. diff?

Someone with a C. difficile infection is generally considered to be infectious until at least 48 hours after their symptoms have cleared up.

Do patients with C. diff need to be isolated?

Patients suspected or confirmed to have C. difficile infection should be placed on contact precautions, preferably in a single room, until the diarrhea is resolved or its cause is determined not to be infectious (refer to item 9, Patient Placement and Accommodation).

Previous article
Is it bad if your toilet rocks back and forth?
Next article
How do you know if your furnace is not working properly?