Introduction and question

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SBinSD
Brand New Poster
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2018 1:26 pm

Introduction and question

Postby SBinSD » Thu Jun 07, 2018 9:57 pm

Hi all
I’m Sabrina and my 90yo Mother’s caregiver along with 2 siblings but I live with her. She was diagnosed today with Cdiff and although I am somewhat familiar with it I’ve never had a household member get it. Your site is a blessing, I’ve learned a lot. Mom is in the hospital now and has been for a month with a few days out just to have another issue arise. She had an aortic valve replacement and they’ve had her on 2000 mg of Keflex which caused the Cdiff.

I’m disinfecting the house now and would like to know if heat kills the spores. She has slip covered couches that cannot be washed in hot bleach water. I’d like to put them dry into a hot dryer for 15 or 20 minutes and then wash them and line dry. Will that kill Cdiff?
I hope I’m in the right forum for this question.
Thank you

AllisS
Long Time Contributor
Posts: 1889
Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2012 10:52 pm

Re: Introduction and question

Postby AllisS » Fri Jun 08, 2018 12:09 am

Hi Sabrina, welcome to the site. When you have a chance, please take a look at our guidelines for new posters, first entry on the intro page.

I don't know the answer to your question about heat killing spores -- perhaps one of the other moderators is familiar with the topic -- but I've not heard of this method. Leaving that aside, it isn't necessary to try to disinfect the entire house, or any of the furniture, unless these areas were actually soiled by "accidents." It's rare for family members to transmit C. diff to one another. The best preventive measure is thorough hand-washing with soap and water. Ordinary hand sanitizers, e.g., Purell, will not kill c. diff spores.

The idea of disinfection has caused many of our posters, including me, stress. When I was diagnosed, my then-GI doctor's nurse practitioner told me to go home and do just that -- a prospect that seemed both vague and overwhelming. Soon afterward, I switched to a C. diff specialist's care; he basically told me to forget about the disinfection, that it wasn't necessary.

If you would like to clean specific areas, e.g., in the bathroom and kitchen, you can do so with a home-made solution of bleach and water (one part bleach to nine parts water) or you can purchase Clorox Germicidal Bleach Wipes (available only online, e.g., through Amazon) along with a box of disposable gloves. Use the solution or the wipes on hard surfaces only, such as countertops and door and toilet handles.

It's OK to use this forum for posting, though the General C. Diff Discussion is the main forum used for questions.

Wishing your mother a speedy recovery,

Allison
If your illness was preceded by use of a medication, e.g., an antibiotic, please fill out an FDA Adverse Event Report at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/default.htm

roy
Administrator
Posts: 4193
Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2014 1:05 am

Re: Introduction and question

Postby roy » Fri Jun 08, 2018 4:59 am

The best you can do with soft furnishings is to make sure they are visibly clean.
If directly contaminated with D then it's time to throw them out.
The heat in a domestic drier will (probably) not kill c.diff spores.
it's no where near hot enough.
The intensive cleaning is mainly meant for hospital and care homes where c.diff is spread around by multiple occupants and workers.
This has resulted in the public thinking that a home is severely contaminated because someone has c.diff.
The main thing is you know how its transmitted, faecal to oral.
Concentrate on hand (reasonable) washing, keep food areas and bathroom clean by using bleach and the infection cycle is broken.

If she has been in hospital for a month she contracted c.diff in there.
You dont mention her treatment.
Flagyl is not recommended as c.diff treatment any longer, the hospital may still be using it (because its cheap).
Check her meds and let us know what she is on.
Vancomycin is good but DIFICID is better.
Again it's a $ thing because Dificid is very expensive.
My mom was 90 when she caught c.diff, she did not survive.
Watch closely for signs of dehydration, blood in her stool, fluid retention in her limbs and for her hiding the pain, it can be very mild but is significant.
No matter how insignificant a "new" symptom is make sure a Dr (not a nurse) is aware of it.
My mother progressed to illius and toxic megacolon with very little pain and passed away without needing pain killers.
Be her advocate and check her progress several times a day if possible.
Things can change VERY quickly and nurses are to busy to notice.

SBinSD
Brand New Poster
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2018 1:26 pm

Re: Introduction and question

Postby SBinSD » Fri Jun 08, 2018 11:02 am

I’m sorry for your loss and tHank you for all the information. She is on Vancomycin. She has multiple issues. She is in end stage renal failure and just had a aortic valve replacement. She got a a blood infection from an IV and they didn’t want the bacteria going to the new valve so high dosed her with Keflex. I hook up her home peritoneal dialysis so cleanliness is a concern.

In my heart I knew that if she got C.diff or MRSA in the hospital it would be a dire situation. I’ve had HMRSA after just 10 days in the hospital but my surgeon refused to test me. In mom’s case I’m sure it was a tough decision so reporting it as an adverse event I’m not sure is the right thing to do. Again, thank you.

roy
Administrator
Posts: 4193
Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2014 1:05 am

Re: Introduction and question

Postby roy » Fri Jun 08, 2018 4:29 pm

I hope she makes it.


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