What Do You Clean for C Diff

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Scout94
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What Do You Clean for C Diff

Postby Scout94 » Mon Jul 09, 2018 4:30 pm

I was diagnosed with C Diff two days ago and have been trying my best to bleach everything I can since then.
I've bleached light switches, knobs and handles, counters, walls, and everything in the bathroom. I've also washed all my bedding and towels with bleach in hot water. I also clean the toilet bowl with bleach after every BM, and wipe the rest of the toilet with a Clorox wipe.
My question is: Do I need to keep up this level of cleanliness for the next few weeks? I'm planning to spend an hour cleaning each day.

What is your cleaning routine? Do you need to wash bedding everyday?

beth22
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Re: What Do You Clean for C Diff

Postby beth22 » Mon Jul 09, 2018 5:21 pm

Hi Scout94 and welcome to the site. Please read the first forum for general information for new posters.

As far as cleaning goes, you sound as if you are doing all the right things. Make sure the clorox wipe that you mention actually has bleach in it. The ones you get at the store do not. You have to order the germicidal ones online, but I hear a few places do carry them. They are different from the ones the grocery store sells to wipe off surfaces in the kitchen.

I don't think you need to wash bedding every day unless you are soiling the sheets. I would wash your underwear separately for a few weeks, but that is all I would add to your list.

AllisS
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Re: What Do You Clean for C Diff

Postby AllisS » Tue Jul 10, 2018 12:06 am

Hi Scout94, another welcome to the site. Here is a link to the Clorox Germicidal Bleach Wipes that Beth mentioned:
https://www.amazon.com/Clorox-Healthcar ... idal+wipes
Alternatively, you can use a home-made diluted-bleach solution of about one part bleach to nine parts water. Regardless of which cleaning method you use, be sure to handle either one with disposable gloves; you can get a box of those at a pharmacy or online.

I think you may be going a little overboard with the cleaning if you're devoting an hour to it per day; for instance, it's probably not necessary to bleach the bathroom walls more than occasionally if they are tile. (Bleach should only be used on non-porous surfaces.) I got very stressed out about the "cleaning" piece of things when I had C. diff, due to some "advice" that the GI dr's NP tossed out. I ended up switching my care to a C. diff specialist, who reassured me that this level of "sanitizing" was unnecessary. It's also extremely draining when one is ill or trying to recover.
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

Scout94
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Re: What Do You Clean for C Diff

Postby Scout94 » Tue Jul 10, 2018 1:30 pm

Thank you for your replies!
That makes me feel quite a bit better. And thank you for informing me about those Clorox wipes. I ordered the germicidal bleach wipes online.

karensz
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Re: What Do You Clean for C Diff

Postby karensz » Tue Jul 17, 2018 6:44 pm

I am taking care of an elderly gentleman who is immuno compromised. Was diagnosed yesterday with CDIFF. His doctors told me I must call in a Hazmat team to have the apartment cleaned for CDIFF. They say ALL surfaces must be wiped in bleach/water for 5 mins- all fabrics, walls, furniture, decorations, every single thing. Any papers or other things not able to withstand being wiped for 5 mins w/bleach solution must be thrown out. They tell me anyone entering the home must wear a mask, gloves and hazmat suit. This is a HUGE undertaking. Is this normal? Do I truly need to do all of this? HELP!

roy
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Re: What Do You Clean for C Diff

Postby roy » Tue Jul 17, 2018 7:19 pm

I have never heard of this before!
Someone is giving you very bad and misinformed info about a very common bacteria that is on 25% of people shoes and in 17% of US hospitals.
With 500,000 confirmed cases (and a lot more unconfirmed) in America alone that's a heck of a lot of hazmat teams needed!
If the gentleman has been pooping all over the apartment there might be a problem but the same goes for anywhere that's heavily contaminated with faeces.

Perhaps the cleaning is because he is immuno compromised and risks reinfection.
It's not because c.diff is a danger to healthy people!
Hospital cleaners wearing rubber gloves clean it away almost daily!

karensz
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Re: What Do You Clean for C Diff

Postby karensz » Tue Jul 17, 2018 7:46 pm

He has had BM in various places throughout the apartment. He's using a walker, and the diarrhea was coming out of his Depends underwear for several days as he was tottering about. We scrubbed floors each time we found this happening. Didn't know about CDIFF so had no idea this could be so contagious. He is not compliant in washing hands/cleaning toilet after each use/etc. Not sure that all of this cleaning would even matter as it seems he will simply reinfect from his own lack of hygiene, but I am trying to make the right decision on whether to have the hazmat team clean or not.

AllisS
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Re: What Do You Clean for C Diff

Postby AllisS » Wed Jul 18, 2018 8:31 pm

Situation sounds nightmarish. Also sounds as though he suffers from dementia as well as C. diff. Regardless of how much cleaning is done and by whom: fabric other than clothing items can't really be bleached without destroying them. Bleach is generally used only for laundry and for non-porous surfaces.
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
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Re: What Do You Clean for C Diff

Postby roy » Thu Jul 19, 2018 4:55 am

I would agree that his apartment needs professional cleaning by people experianced with decontamination, it's not only c.diff you need to eliminate.
There will be many other potentialy dangerous germs that need cleaning away.
It also sounds like your going to need help if he comes home so start the discussion with his health care team now.
Is this gentleman someone you are related to?
He is very sick.

Forest
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Re: What Do You Clean for C Diff

Postby Forest » Sun Jul 29, 2018 5:59 pm

I've heard that there is a hospital grade disinfectant that could be used instead of bleach. This would be really great as I might be able to soak dirty clothes in the disinfectant, and then wash in the washing machine per usual.

Anyone know what the disinfectant is called, or whee to get it?

Thanks,
Forest

NanciT
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Re: What Do You Clean for C Diff

Postby NanciT » Sun Jul 29, 2018 6:32 pm

I am not aware of any hospital grade disinfectant you can use on clothing. There is a germicidal solution and wipes which is considered a "sterile" solution but not to be used on clothing.

NanciT

beth22
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Re: What Do You Clean for C Diff

Postby beth22 » Sun Jul 29, 2018 9:37 pm

There is a hospital grade disinfectant. I remember reading about it years ago and my doctor ordered it to disinfect his wife's room when she went to a rehab facility. I think you had to be a medical professional to get it. She got c difficile anyway. She only had a G tube and was not even eating or drinking anything by mouth, so I guess someone didn't wash their hands when handling her G tube. Not what the poor lady needed!

Ril
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Re: What Do You Clean for C Diff

Postby Ril » Sun Jul 29, 2018 10:01 pm

I also am not aware of any hospital grade disinfectant for clothing. There are tips for laundering in the CDI section of this site.
Special clothing disinfectant is not necessary.

Rita

roy
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Re: What Do You Clean for C Diff

Postby roy » Mon Jul 30, 2018 3:26 am

In UK theres this product.
http://www.dettol.co.uk/products/see-al ... sh-cotton/
I do not know if it kills c.diff spores though.
The "kills 99.9%" claim is a get out statement and when I asked the company by email they would not confirm it has been proven to kill c.diff.

Machaon
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Re: What Do You Clean for C Diff

Postby Machaon » Mon Jul 30, 2018 11:52 am

Because of my autoimmune problems and my heart failure, I was very limited in how we cleaned during and after my nasty, debilitating six month struggle with C-diff. Our main approach was to constantly wash hands, especially before eating, and to keep our hands away from our mouths at all other times.

We cleaned my soiled underwear by boiling water on the stove and pouring the water into a five gallon bucket, and adding dish detergent.

We did keep separate bathrooms and I did clean my toilet seat using dish detergent.

As of August 12th, I'll have been totally recovered for 11 months, without any negative side effects from the C-diff. No IBS. No dietary restrictions. No potty problems.

I think that we must have been very lucky that I didn't re-infect and that my wife didn't get infected. I would never suggest our way of dealing with a C-diff infection to anyone else. We just got very lucky. But, at the same time, it is a little interesting that we survived as well as we did not following the normal medically necessary protocols.

Regards, Bob
Male 77 S.Florida

900 weight lifts 750 knee bends day

Since 1987 had CHF afib asthma

I inhale $6 Flonase nasal spray for asthma :)

Ex C-diff (4/19/17- 9/12/17) after 10 days dificid

Diet:6 meals ~1500 cals 2 eggs 2 steamed broccoli, apple, bagels


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